Will Elon Musk Restore Internet Services In Iran? Trump Says ‘Will Speak To Him’

Last Updated:January 12, 2026, 18:59 IST

Elon Musk has previously supported providing Starlink access to Iranians to help them bypass government restrictions, including during 2022 protests.

Elon Musk and US President Donald Trump at the White House.

US President Donald Trump has said that he will speak with SpaceX owner Elon Musk to restore internet services in Iran, where authorities have imposed a nationwide blackout amid widespread anti-government protests.

While speaking to reporters on Sunday, the US President said that Musk’s SpaceX could help address the situation through its satellite internet service, Starlink.

“We may speak to Elon because he’s very good at that kind of thing. He’s got a very good company," Trump said, adding that he intended to call Musk soon.

Musk has previously supported providing Starlink access to Iranians to help them bypass government restrictions, including during protests in 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody. That year, the Biden administration had also engaged with Musk to enable Starlink services in Iran.

The Starlink satellite service has been used in other regions marked by unrest or conflict, such as Ukraine, where Musk in 2022 ordered a shutdown of Starlink during a pivotal Ukrainian offensive, Reuters reported.

Iran has been under an internet blackout for four days, with international calls blocked and domestic mobile phone services reportedly shut down. The blackout has severely restricted the flow of information from the country, which has been witnessing its largest wave of protests since 2022.

According to the latest data from human rights monitors, the crackdown by Iranian forces has resulted in the confirmed deaths of 544 people, including 483 protesters and 47 security personnel. Among these are eight minors and several non-protesting civilians.

More than 10,681 people have been arrested and transferred to various prisons since the protests began on December 28, 2025. These protests were triggered by economic hardships like soaring inflation but have since evolved into a direct challenge against the Khamenei regime.

Despite the widespread nature of the protests – reportedly at 585 locations in 186 cities – foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has claimed that “the situation has come under total control". Addressing foreign diplomats in Tehran, he said there is clear evidence linking the deadly violence to “Mossad terrorists" and US-backed groups.

(With inputs from agencies)

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