Bennett says Israel smuggled Starlink receivers into Iran to support anti-government protests

Former Israeli prime minister says he smuggled Starlink receptors into Iran Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said he had helped to smuggle tens of thousands of Starlink receptors into Iran. Speaking at the JNS International Policy Summit in Jerusalem on Tuesday, Bennett said the plan had been to aid anti-government protesters during times when the Islamic Republic cut off internet access, as it often does during demonstrations. "What happens every time there's a protest? They turn off the internet, and then there's no communications," he said. "So what I had started was a process of acquiring and smuggling into Iran tens of thousands of Starlink receptors that would allow continuity of the internet and social networks when they turn it off, and would allow the protests to coordinate and ultimately topple." However, he said that current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's "incompetent" government stopped the programme. "And when the protest happened, that infrastructure was not there," he said, referring to the protests in Iran that began in late December. The anti-government protests that escalated in January saw thousands killed. Read more: Former Israeli prime minister says he smuggled Starlink receptors into Iran Naftali Bennett speaks in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv on 12 May (Jack Guez/AFP)  

Former Israeli prime minister says he smuggled Starlink receptors into Iran Submitted by MEE staff on Wed, 06/24/2026 - 09:39 Naftali Bennett accuses Netanyahu of stopping his programme to provide internet in Iran to help anti-government protesters Naftali Bennett speaks in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv on 12 May (Jack Guez/AFP) Off Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said he had helped to smuggle tens of thousands of Starlink receptors into Iran. Speaking at the JNS International Policy Summit in Jerusalem on Tuesday, Bennett said the plan had been to aid anti-government protesters during times when the Islamic Republic cut off internet access, as it often does during demonstrations. "What happens every time there's a protest? They turn off the internet, and then there's no communications," he said. "So what I had started was a process of acquiring and smuggling into Iran tens of thousands of Starlink receptors that would allow continuity of the internet and social networks when they turn it off, and would allow the protests to coordinate and ultimately topple." However, he said that current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's "incompetent" government stopped the programme. "And when the protest happened, that infrastructure was not there," he said, referring to the protests in Iran that began in late December. The anti-government protests that escalated in January saw thousands killed. The demonstrations started in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar in response to inflation before growing and becoming a vehicle for anger at the Islamic Republic as a whole. War on Gaza: Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett calls on US to bring down Iran Read More » Although Iranian police and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces were blamed for most of the deaths, there have also been claims of Israeli infiltrations into the demonstrations and the killing of Iranian security forces and civilians by anti-government activists. Bennett's comments come as the US and Iran continue negotiating an end to the war that began in February, when Israeli and American forces attacked the country, killing its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The US suspended sanctions against Iran on Monday during a day of talks that US Vice President JD Vance characterised as "good progress".  US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the Treasury would be temporarily lifting sanctions until 21 August under a 60-day general licence that authorises Iranian oil production and sales. Any transactions during this period must be made in US dollars. War on Iran News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

JERUSALEM: A former Israeli prime minister acknowledged on Tuesday that Israel had smuggled Starlink internet receivers into Iran to help anti-government protesters, though he said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government failed to follow through on the plans. Naftali Bennett, who served as prime minister in 2021 and 2022, told an audience at a conference in Jerusalem that he had initiated a “process of acquiring and smuggling into Iran tens of thousands of Starlink receptors that would allow continuity of the internet and social networks”. Starlink, owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, provides satellite internet connections. Iran has previously accused Israel and the United States of smuggling in the devices to undermine its security. Bennett said the devices were intended to enable protesters to coordinate and ultimately topple the Iranian government. “Unfortunately, the current incompetent Israeli government stopped doing that,” he said. “And when the protest happened, that infrastructure was not there.” Bennett further said that if he returned to office he would work to undermine Iran’s government with the aim of toppling it. “That could include measures short of direct military attacks such as economic and industrial sabotage.” Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026

Iran has previously accused Israel and the United States of smuggling in the devices to undermine its security. Starlink is not licensed to operate in Iran, but Musk has previously said the service is active there.

Naftali Bennett, the prime minister from 2021 to 2022, told a gatheringthat he had started a "process of acquiring and smuggling into Iran tens of thousands of Starlink receptors".

Naftali Bennett said the receivers were meant to help protesters topple the regime