Human rights groups state that [entities not specified in original] are targeting Starlink users to stop the leaks of protest footage during the regime’s continuous blockade on internet access.

Last week, as anti – regime protests intensified, Iran cut off public internet access. This left Starlink as one of the few means for Iranians to share images of the regime’s deadly crackdown.

Starlink is still illegal in Iran, but rights groups claim they have smuggled thousands of Starlink terminals into the country. According to The Wall Street Journal on Monday, the government’s attempts to shut down internet access have slowed the service’s connectivity, yet users can still send footage to trusted third – parties who can then share it on social media.

SpaceX, the company behind Starlink, did not immediately respond to a comment request from Digital.

On Sunday, President Donald Trump confirmed that he planned to talk with the SpaceX founder and CEO about enhancing Starlink’s connectivity in Iran.

“He’s very good at this sort of thing. He has a great company,” Trump told reporters.

In 2022, during protests over the death of Mahsa Amini, SpaceX previously collaborated with the former President’s administration to support Starlink access in Iran. Amini, a 22 – year – old woman, was hospitalized and later died after being detained by Iran’s morality police for violating the dress code.

Iran’s current protests are due to economic reasons, with Iranians being angry about high prices and [something missing in original] towards Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s regime.

Since the unrest began, Iranian authorities have killed at least 646 protesters, and thousands more deaths are expected to be confirmed. Reuters reported a death toll of 2,000, citing an unnamed Iranian official.

On Monday, the White House confirmed that Trump was considering whether to bomb Iran in response to the crackdown.

The White House press secretary told reporters that diplomacy remains Trump’s first choice, but the president “has shown that he is not afraid to use military options when he deems it necessary.”

“He definitely doesn’t want to see people being killed in the streets of Tehran. And unfortunately, that’s what we’re seeing right now,” she added.

‘ Landon Mion contributed to this report.