Recent actions by Iran have attracted considerable attention. Reports indicate that Iranian security forces are conducting large-scale raids to seize Starlink terminals entering the country through underground channels, with an astonishing number—multiple sources estimate around 100,000 Starlink devices smuggled into Iran. Possessing such equipment in Iran carries serious consequences: at best, confiscation; at worst, charges of "espionage" with sentences up to 10 years.

This is not merely a law enforcement operation by a single country; it reflects deeper technological warfare and geopolitical struggles. Many see Starlink as a "global internet accessibility tool" championed by Elon Musk, claiming it can provide network coverage to remote areas. However, for those concerned with technological politics, Starlink’s true nature is far more complex.

The key fact is that the U.S. Department of Defense had invested $150 million in 2018 to develop a military version of Starlink satellites. This project is still managed by former U.S. military officials and essentially constitutes a "military communication system disguised as a civilian service." The U.S. military’s three branches—Army, Navy, and Air Force—have integrated Starlink into their operational systems, networking it with fighter jets and refueling aircraft, even compressing battlefield decision-making links to under 20 seconds. In a sense, it has become the "airborne nerve center" of modern military operations.

When such a deeply militarized tool appears in regions with tense relations with the United States, it is understandable that various parties have differing attitudes toward it. Technology itself is neutral, but control and usage rights are anything but.