Featured Image Credit: Starlink
While President Donald Trump mulls over what to do next when it comes to the Iran-Israel conflict, Elon Musk has inadvertently waded into the situation by bringing the internet back to some of the country's 90 million citizens.
Iran and Israel have been exchanging missiles, with Donald Trump saying the former cannot have the ability to create a nuclear weapon. As the POTUS calls for the country's surrender and Iran says its nuclear program is for research purposes, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reiterated his country won't back down, worringly warning: "The Americans, and those familiar with the politics of this region, know that the US involvement in this matter will be entirely to its detriment and it will suffer a blow.
“A blow that will be far more damaging than any harm that may come to Iran."
As things continue to escalate, and more officials say we're in the midst of World War III, all eyes are on the Middle East. In the middle of the Israeli strikes, Iran imposed a 'temporary' blackout on all internet services.
There were calls for Elon Musk to intervene with his Starlink satellites as he did with Ukraine, with the world's richest man quipping, "The beams are on." It came after conservative commentator Mark Levin asked for Musk to step in, saying: "Iran cut off all internet so that the people cannot organize a coup and communicate."
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Discussing the internet blackout, a statement from the Iranian Communications Ministry reiterated: "In view of the special conditions of the country, temporary restrictions have been imposed on the country’s internet."
Tired of waiting for restrictions to be lifted, it's said that Musk's satellites started beaming uncensored internet to around 20,000 terminals that have been operating on Iran's black market.
In 2024, it was reported that Musk met with Iranian ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani at his New York residence. Apparently set up to ease tensions between the USA and Iran, this was conveniently timed just a day before Musk was made head of the Department of Government Efficiency.
In an address to the people of Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appealed to its citizens, telling Iranians: "Israel’s fight is not against the Iranian people. Our fight is against the murderous Islamic regime that oppresses and impoverishes you."
In times of conflict, countries might engage in information asymmetry panic. This is where governments might try and control the spread of information and isolate their citizens so there can't be mass panic. Restricting the internet would also stop the sharing of information and could curb people's ability to band together to overthrow a regime.
Whereas Iran might be able to take out communication towers, the fact that Starlink can beam directly from space is an unexpected advancement in modern warfare. Of course, there are concerns that a private company like Starlink can simply bypass diplomatic negotiations and make decisions that those in government should be privy to. There's also the fact that these satellites operate in a gray area of international space, meaning that shooting them down could trigger wider repercussions.
With tech companies now wielding the power that intelligence agencies used to hold and the decision-making abilities of government officials, they're likely to be even more influential in future conflicts.
