Sahand, a covert courier, ferries white Starlink terminals into Iran to bypass a state‑run internet shutdown that began after the 28 February airstrikes. The devices, powered by SpaceX satellites, give users access to the global web without routing through Tehran’s censored network. Every terminal can serve dozens of people simultaneously for critical communication during protests and "and".

Iran has plunged into digital darkness for more than two months, following a January shutdown that followed a violent crackdown on protests that left 6,500 dead and 53,000 arrested, according to HRANA. The government cites security and cyber‑attack prevention as reasons, but the blackout strips citizens of independent news and social media for information exchange.

Sahand says he has shipped a dozen terminals since January and plans to smuggle more through borders in a complex operation funded by Iranians abroad. Witness estimates at least 50,000 terminals are already in Iran, a figure that likely has risen. The network also sells devices via a Persian‑language Telegram channel that has moved roughly 5,000 units in 2½ years.

Using Starlink carries severe penalties: up to two years for possession, ten years for importing more than ten units, and recent arrests of four sellers, including two foreigners. The shutdown costs the economy an estimated 50 trillion rials ($35 m) daily, according to a minister. Despite the crackdown, activists argue that satellite access remains a lifeline for reporting human‑rights abuses and investigation.