GEOKHUB | Washington, D.C. — Jan 11 U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that he plans to speak with billionaire Elon Musk about restoring internet access in Iran, where authorities have shut down online services for four consecutive days amid escalating anti-government protests.
Responding to questions from reporters, Trump suggested Musk’s satellite internet company, Starlink, could play a role in reconnecting Iranians to the outside world.
“He’s very good at that kind of thing. He’s got a very good company,” Trump said, referring to Musk.
Iran’s nationwide internet blackout has severely restricted the flow of information as protests spread across multiple cities, marking the most sustained unrest against the clerical establishment in years.
Starlink Seen as Possible Lifeline
Starlink, operated by Musk’s SpaceX has previously been used to bypass government internet shutdowns in countries facing conflict or political upheaval. Musk has publicly supported providing the service to Iranians during earlier protest movements, including the nationwide demonstrations that followed the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini in police custody.
At the time, the U.S. government coordinated with Musk to facilitate Starlink access for Iranian users despite sanctions and technical hurdles.
Neither Musk nor SpaceX immediately commented on Trump’s remarks.
A Renewed Trump–Musk Relationship
Trump and Musk’s relationship has fluctuated in recent years. Musk was a major financial backer of Trump’s successful presidential campaign, before publicly opposing key administration policies and clashing with the White House over taxation.
However, signs of reconciliation have emerged in recent weeks. The two were seen dining together at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is scheduled to visit a SpaceX facility in Texas.
Starlink has already been deployed in other geopolitical flashpoints, including Ukraine, though its use there has drawn controversy after Musk restricted service during a key military operation in 2022.
Protests and Casualties Mount in Iran
Iran’s current unrest began in late December over soaring prices and economic hardship, before rapidly evolving into open defiance of the country’s ruling clerics. Rights groups estimate that hundreds have been killed and thousands detained since the protests erupted.
Independent monitoring groups say nearly 500 protesters and dozens of security personnel have died, with more than 10,000 arrests reported. Iranian authorities have not released official casualty figures.
With Iran largely cut off from global communication, analysts say restoring internet access could significantly alter the trajectory of the unrest.
