Iran’s parliament has passed legislation criminalising the use of unlicensed electronic communication tools, including satellite internet services such as Starlink, with offenders facing various prison terms, ISNA reported on June 29.

The use of this technology has been driven by growing frustrations over internet restrictions and low-quality service from domestic providers, with many Iranians seeking alternative ways to access unrestricted content and have the ability to stream content from non-Iranian sources. However, the Iranian authorities now fear that the use of the non-monitored mobile internet service potentially enabled alleged Israeli spies to contact Tel Aviv.  

The law, ratified on June 23, comes in the wake of a 12-day war with Israel and heightened concerns over foreign influence and information control.

Reports surfaced during this conflict that thousands of clandestine Starlink terminals have been smuggled into Iran to bypass wartime internet blackouts.

The legislation, titled “Increasing the Punishment for Espionage and Collaborating with Israel and Hostile Countries Against National Security and Interests,” comprises nine articles and introduces severe penalties for a broad range of activities deemed threatening to national security.

Under the new law, any intelligence or operational cooperation with Israel or other hostile states is classified as “corruption on earth”, a charge that carries the death penalty under Iranian law.

Capital punishment may also apply to individuals involved in the production, transport, or use of lethal or unconventional weapons, military-grade drones or robots, cyberattacks, or sabotage of critical infrastructure, if such acts are committed with the intent to aid hostile entities.

The law further criminalises receiving funds or assets from foreign intelligence agents, even if no action is taken, provided the recipient is aware of the sender’s affiliation.

The government stated that political, cultural, media, or propaganda activities that incite public fear, sow division, or undermine national security may result in imprisonment and permanent dismissal from public service.

Images circulating on social media in 2024 indicated that some users had installed Starlink dishes on their rooftops, circumventing local laws. 

Starlink equipment costs range from IRR400mn ($673) to IRR2bn ($3,367), with a monthly subscription fee of around $40, Zoomit reported in 2024.

There were hopes previously of a deal between the Musk-owned brand and the Iranian government after New York Times reporters caught video of the billionaire leaving the Iranian consulate in the United Nations in New York. 

The newspaper reported that Musk, a close Trump adviser until recently, met Iran's UN Ambassador Amir Saeed Iravani for over an hour in New York on November 11 before the current president's inauguration.

Two Iranian sources described the meeting as "positive" and "encouraging" at the time, saying it provided a way to communicate indirectly with the US while avoiding direct official contact.

On the same day, officials in Iran, including the president and foreign minister, talked of softening their stance towards the US. This was before the Israeli and US strikes across the country this month.