Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has said Israel smuggled Starlink internet receivers into Iran to support anti-government protesters. He said the devices were intended to help demonstrators coordinate and ultimately challenge the Iranian government. The remarks add a new dimension to long-standing tensions between Israel and Iran.
Bennett made the comments during a policy summit in Jerusalem, where he described efforts initiated during his time in office. He said the plan involved acquiring and smuggling tens of thousands of Starlink devices into Iran. According to him, the goal was to maintain internet access during protests and unrest.
He added that the initiative was not fully continued under the current Israeli government. Bennett said the absence of such infrastructure limited protest coordination when unrest occurred. His remarks suggest internal disagreement over the strategy’s execution.
Iran has previously accused Israel and the United States of using satellite communication tools to undermine its security. Starlink, operated by SpaceX, is not officially licensed in Iran but has reportedly been accessed during internet shutdowns. Iranian authorities have frequently restricted internet access during periods of political unrest.
Bennett also said that future efforts against Iran could include economic and industrial disruption rather than direct military action. His comments come amid heightened regional tensions and ongoing diplomatic and security disputes involving Iran and Israel.