Last week, Iranian officials shut down most internet connections and heavily limited phone calls and text messaging services. As a result, uninterrupted internet access is now largely reserved for the government, state run media, and pro government groups, the report said.

With ground-based networks throttled, many Iranians turned to Starlink, a satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX. However, the government has now begun actively targeting the service.

Mehdi Yahya Nejad, co founder of the U.S. based NGO NetFreedom Pioneers, told the newspaper that Iranian authorities have tried to disrupt Starlink signals. While these efforts have slowed down the service, they have not been able to shut it down completely.

Starlink terminals are illegal in Iran and are secretly brought into the country. Their use grew sharply after the 2022 protests, when traditional internet access was repeatedly blocked. According to Yahya Nejad, his organization helped deliver thousands of Starlink kits to non government groups inside Iran, while others entered the country through commercial smuggling routes.

A Starlink user in Tehran told the U.S. newspaper that he uploaded protest videos filmed by relatives and sent them to contacts abroad, who then shared them on social media.

He said Starlink users avoid speaking openly about the service and only share content with trusted people, as authorities are actively hunting for those using it.

Protests against the Iranian government are still ongoing. A U.S. based human rights organization claims that at least 490 people have been killed during the past two weeks of demonstrations.

Earlier, the U.S. president warned Tehran against using deadly force on protesters. Just a day ago, he said Washington is considering multiple options against Iran, including possible military action.

The digital battle unfolding in Iran shows how the internet has become more than a tool, it is now a frontline in the struggle between the state and its people.