Parliament Bans the Use of Starlink in Iran

Iran's Parliament has officially passed a law prohibiting the use of unlicensed electronic internet communication tools, including Starlink.

During a public session held on June 24, members of Iran's Parliament approved both the general principles and specific articles of a bill aimed at intensifying the punishment for spies and collaborators with the Zionist regime and hostile countries acting against national security and interests. The bill includes nine articles.

Article 3 of the new legislation emphasizes that any form of cooperation or assistance, with full knowledge and intent, to the Zionist regime, hostile governments, or other regimes and hostile groups — including the manufacturing, assembly, provision, transfer, transaction, transportation, storage, importation, use, or any exploitation of micro drones, drones, smart robots or their components for military, espionage, sabotage, assassination, or disruptive purposes targeting vital systems and national infrastructure — as well as any form of cyber warfare, cyberattacks, disruption of communication networks, information systems, or critical infrastructure, or sabotage of public or private facilities, or any assistance in such activities, will be considered as spreading corruption on earth (efsad fel-arz) under Article 286 of the Islamic Penal Code, and is subject to the associated punishments.

The legislation also states that receiving any money or assets — such as property, vehicles, gold, foreign currency, or any kind of encrypted digital asset — from spies or individuals affiliated with intelligence services, with knowledge of their affiliation, will be punishable by death for efsad fel-arz, regardless of whether the recipient has taken any actual action or not. Corruption on Earth (efsad fel-arz) is a capital offense under Article 286 of Iran’s Islamic Penal Code, which can carry the death penalty.

According to Article 5 of the bill, the use, transport, purchase, sale, import, or provision of unlicensed electronic internet communication tools, including devices such as Starlink, is prohibited and punishable by sixth-degree imprisonment and confiscation of the equipment. Sixth-degree imprisonment in Iran ranges from 6 months to 3 years.

Furthermore, the provision, production, distribution, or importation of more than ten such devices, or engaging in the above-mentioned acts with the intent to act against the state, will be considered a fourth-degree offense, punishable by 5 to 10 years of imprisonment.

Notably, under Article 6, if these offenses are committed during wartime or in situations classified as security or military crises by the Supreme National Security Council, the punishment may be increased by up to three degrees, which could lead to prison sentences of 10 to 15 years.