Iran is poised to implement a law that, for the first time anywhere in the world, explicitly makes the use of Starlink satellite internet a crime punishable by death under certain circumstances. This extraordinary move, which has drawn sharp international attention and domestic concern, comes amid heightened tensions following the 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June 2025—a conflict that also saw the involvement of the United States. The new legislation, titled “Intensifying Punishment for Espionage and Cooperation with the Zionist Regime and Hostile Countries Against National Security and Interests,” was approved by the Guardian Council and submitted by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf to President Masoud Pezeshkian for implementation, according to reporting from multiple sources including BBC and Radio Farda.
The law’s most striking provision is its harshest penalty: execution for those found guilty of using, distributing, or importing unauthorized satellite internet devices like Starlink if such actions are deemed to have been carried out with the intent to confront the Islamic Republic or for espionage purposes. This is the first time that satellite internet technology has been explicitly criminalized with capital punishment anywhere in the world, marking a sobering escalation in Iran’s ongoing battle to control the flow of information within its borders.
According to the text of the law, as cited by BBC, “the use, possession, purchase, sale, or import of unlicensed electronic, internet, or satellite communication devices—such as Starlink—for personal use is prohibited and punishable by sixth-degree imprisonment, with the equipment to be confiscated.” This means that ordinary Iranians found simply using Starlink for personal reasons could face six months to two years in prison, along with the loss of their equipment. For those involved in producing, distributing, installing, or importing such devices for sale, the law stipulates a fifth-degree discretionary imprisonment of two to five years.
But it is the law’s language around intent and espionage that has proven most controversial. If the authorities determine that actions involving Starlink are carried out “with intent to confront the system” or for espionage, and if the perpetrator is deemed an “enemy agent,” the punishment escalates to death. The law further specifies that “any intelligence or espionage activity for the aforementioned regimes, governments, groups, or their affiliates shall result in confiscation of all property and the death penalty,” as reported by Radio Farda. The charge of “corruption on earth”—a formal accusation within Iran’s Islamic legal system frequently used by Revolutionary Courts to justify death sentences against political prisoners—is also cited repeatedly in the legislation. Since Starlink is owned by the American company SpaceX, any activities related to its use, distribution, or import could potentially be prosecuted under this charge.
Article 6 of the law adds another layer of severity: if crimes under the law are committed during wartime or security situations—as determined by the Supreme National Security Council—sentences can be increased by up to three degrees. This means that in times of heightened national tension, even relatively minor infractions could result in much harsher penalties.
Iranian authorities have justified the law by pointing to what they see as the dangers posed by unregulated satellite internet. Starlink, which provides direct access to the global internet without passing through a country’s internal infrastructure, is viewed as a threat to the government’s ability to control the digital space. Officials argue that such technology increases the possibilities for covert communications and the transfer of sensitive data, potentially undermining national security. During the 12-day war with Israel and the United States in June 2025, Iran reportedly suffered significant intelligence failures, and the new law was introduced in the aftermath as a response to those vulnerabilities.
The timing of the legislation is also noteworthy. Starlink became a symbol of digital freedom in Iran during the Woman, Life, Freedom protests that erupted in September 2022 following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while in the custody of Iran’s morality police. Amini had been detained for allegedly violating the country’s strict hijab rules, and her death sparked nationwide unrest. During these protests, the Iranian regime imposed widespread internet shutdowns in an attempt to stifle dissent and control the narrative. In response, Western governments encouraged the deployment of Starlink terminals to help Iranians bypass government restrictions and access the open internet. Many activists and ordinary citizens seized on the technology as a lifeline to the outside world, allowing them to organize, communicate, and share their stories despite the government’s efforts to silence them.
Yet it is precisely this ability to circumvent state controls that has made Starlink a target for Iranian lawmakers. By criminalizing its use so severely, the authorities are sending a clear message: any attempt to bypass government-imposed information barriers will be met with the harshest possible consequences. Critics, both inside and outside Iran, have expressed alarm at the law’s reliance on subjective and open-ended language, particularly the phrase “intent to confront the system.” As legal experts and human rights advocates point out, such terminology is highly interpretable and could be wielded to target a broad range of activities, from political dissent to simple acts of communication.
The law’s passage has also raised significant questions about due process and the rights of defendants. In Iran’s judicial system, charges like “corruption on earth” or “waging war against God” have often been used to justify severe punishments, including the death penalty, sometimes after trials that lack transparency or adequate legal representation. The current legislation appears to follow this pattern, granting authorities wide discretion to determine whether an individual’s actions constitute a threat to the state or fall under the rubric of espionage.
For many Iranians, the stakes could not be higher. The internet has become an essential tool for education, business, and personal connection in a country where government censorship and surveillance are pervasive. By targeting technologies that allow citizens to communicate freely, the new law threatens to further isolate Iran from the rest of the world and deepen the sense of fear and uncertainty among its people.
As Iran prepares to enforce this unprecedented law, the world is watching closely. The outcome will not only shape the digital landscape within Iran but could set a precedent for how authoritarian regimes elsewhere respond to emerging technologies that challenge their control. For now, the message from Tehran is unmistakable: in the battle for information, the penalties for defiance have never been more severe.
