Iran Arrests Individuals Accused of Spying Using Starlink Devices in Tehran and Shiraz
Reflecto News | Breaking News | Middle East
TEHRAN — Iranian police have arrested a group of individuals accused of transmitting sensitive information to foreign intelligence agencies using Starlink satellite internet devices, state media reported on Monday .
The arrests, which took place in the Yusefabad neighborhood of Tehran and in Sarvestan near Shiraz, are part of a sweeping crackdown on unauthorized communications and alleged espionage since the outbreak of the Iran-US war on February 28 .
🛰️ Locations of the Arrests
| Location | Details |
|---|---|
| Yusefabad, Tehran | Suspects allegedly rented an apartment and conducted “espionage activities” using “advanced communications equipment, including satellite internet provided by Starlink” |
| Sarvestan, Shiraz | Individual accused of “collaborating with hostile broadcasters by sending messages, images, and videos from sensitive locations” |
According to the Tehran Metropolitan Police, the suspects in Yusefabad were engaged in “sending information and news to intelligence services and hostile broadcasters abroad” using the Starlink terminals .
📡 A Growing Crackdown on Satellite Internet
The arrests are the latest in a series of detentions targeting Starlink usage. The crack on satellite internet equipment has intensified amid a weeks-long internet blackout imposed by Iranian authorities.
Key arrests since April:
| Date | Location | Details |
|---|---|---|
| April 18 | Jolfa County (northwest) | 4 individuals, including 2 foreign nationals, arrested for importing Starlink equipment and alleged “intelligence cooperation” with US-Israeli networks |
| April 19 | Qom Province | 10 individuals arrested for use and possession of Starlink satellite internet and data sharing |
| April 27 | Tehran & Shiraz | Group arrested for transmitting sensitive information via Starlink |
Iranian authorities consider the possession and distribution of Starlink terminals a criminal offence, as the devices bypass state-controlled internet infrastructure .
🔎 Wider Arrest Campaign Since War Began
These arrests are part of a broader crackdown that has seen more than 3,600 people detained since the US-Israeli war on Iran began on February 28, according to the Norway-based human rights organization Iran Human Rights (IHR) .
Scarica la cronologia completa
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Total arrests since Feb 28 | At least 3,646 people |
| Arrests since ceasefire (April 8) | At least 767 |
| Charges | Espionage, communicating with foreign intelligence, transmitting images/coordinates of sensitive locations, attempting to establish operational cells |
| Starlink-related charges | Using and distributing satellite internet terminals to circumvent internet blackouts |
IHR noted that the actual number of arrests is “likely much higher” given current internet restrictions in Iran .
🧨 Espionage Allegations and Foreign Links
The Iranian judiciary and intelligence services have repeatedly accused detainees of being part of “US-Israel-linked espionage networks.”
In one operation, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Intelligence Organization in Kerman Province identified and arrested 51 “main enemy elements and spies,” including three espionage teams linked to enemy intelligence services, six media operatives linked to the “terrorist Iran International network,” and cells affiliated with monarchist and Baha’i groups .
The crackdown has extended beyond the general population to include prominent civil society activists. IHR reported that more than 100 civil society activists are among those arrested, including prize-winning rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, who was detained on April 2 .
🌐 Starlink Smuggling Networks Disrupted
In March, authorities seized 139 Starlink devices from a smuggling network and arrested 46 people in a separate operation . The northwest border region of Jolfa—a critical checkpoint for cross-border trade—has been a focal point for monitoring the flow of banned communications equipment .
The arrests in Tehran and Shiraz on April 27 come as the fragile US-Iran ceasefire, brokered by Pakistan and extended indefinitely, remains in effect. However, the domestic security crackdown shows no sign of easing as Iranian authorities continue to view independent communication tools as a threat to national security amid the ongoing external military pressure .
📋 Key Takeaways for Reflecto News Readers
| Aspect | Summary |
|---|---|
| Latest arrests | Suspects in Tehran (Yusefabad) and Shiraz (Sarvestan) accused of using Starlink for espionage activities |
| Charges | “Sending information and news to intelligence services and hostile broadcasters abroad” |
| Wider crackdown | Over 3,600 arrested since war began; 767+ since April 8 ceasefire |
| Starlink seizures | 139 devices seized in March; 10 arrested in Qom (April 19); 4 in Jolfa (April 18) |
| High-profile detainees | Rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh among 100+ activists arrested |
| Context | Crackdown coincides with weeks-long internet blackout and ongoing war with US-Israel |
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