SpaceX Cracks Down on Starlink Supply to Iran and Other Unlicensed Regions

SpaceX has updated its authorized seller rules to prevent the shipment of Starlink equipment to markets without an official license to operate.

New terms communicated to authorized sellers strictly prohibit shipping Starlink hardware to unauthorized countries. This ban includes sending equipment for demonstration purposes unless they receive direct permission from SpaceX.

Targeting Unauthorized Markets

Reports indicate that this move by SpaceX targets regions like Iran, Russia, and Myanmar. In these areas, Starlink is in demand unofficially due to its ability to bypass filtering, but it has never received an official license to operate.

Previously, SpaceX's rules focused on end customers, but the new action targets the supply chain. Third-party authorized sellers, numbering around 130, have played a significant role in supplying equipment to unauthorized markets.

This decision follows concerns about misuse of Starlink terminals in gray areas. SpaceX recently deactivated over 2,500 dishes in Myanmar used by criminal groups. There were also warnings about Russian military use of the service in occupied areas of Ukraine.

Iran's Reaction and ITU Involvement

Starlink's action comes as Iran filed another complaint against Starlink with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on June 2025. Iran announced that the unlicensed operation in the country violates radio communication regulations. This was Iran's second formal complaint following a similar protest in 2023.

Following the complaint, the ITU confirmed that providing Starlink services within Iran is unauthorized due to non-compliance with territorial laws. The ITU emphasized that SpaceX must obtain licenses according to local laws to provide services in different countries.

According to information obtained by Digiato, many Starlink devices in Iran were purchased by intermediaries from authorized sellers in countries like the UAE and brought into Iran through routes like Sulaimaniyah, Iraq, or southern borders.

The activation process involves purchasing a monthly service subscription often through countries like the Philippines at around $55. The service is activated under 'Asian Roaming,' allowing users to utilize equipment anywhere on the continent, including areas without official coverage like Iran.