Iranian authorities have detained two foreign nationals in the country’s northwest over allegations they helped smuggle Starlink satellite internet equipment into the Islamic Republic, according to local judicial officials quoted by state-aligned media.

The arrests took place in Jolfa, a border city in East Azerbaijan province that sits along a key trade and smuggling corridor. The city’s public prosecutor said the pair were apprehended by security forces on suspicion of importing banned satellite internet devices and participating in a wider clandestine network.

Officials claim the network is accused of intelligence cooperation with groups linked to the United States and Israel, framing the case not only as a violation of telecommunications law but as a national security matter. No details were released about the detainees’ identities, nationalities, or how long they had allegedly been operating in Iran.

Two Iranian citizens have also been arrested in connection with the case. One is accused of attempting to transmit information to what authorities described as “hostile satellite networks,” while the other is alleged to have engaged in broader intelligence activities. The prosecutor did not specify what kind of information was purportedly being sent or whether it related directly to the Starlink equipment.

Iran strictly controls access to the internet, routinely throttling or blocking major platforms and foreign news sites, particularly during periods of unrest or heightened regional tension. Satellite internet systems such as Starlink, operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, are officially banned because they can bypass state-controlled infrastructure and censorship mechanisms.

Despite the ban, Iranian activists and some opposition groups abroad have promoted Starlink as a tool to keep Iranians online during shutdowns. Authorities, in turn, have warned that possession or distribution of such equipment could be prosecuted under national security and smuggling laws.

The latest arrests underscore Tehran’s determination to prevent the spread of unregulated satellite internet, which officials view as a direct challenge to state control over information flows. Human rights advocates, however, argue that access to uncensored connectivity is essential for basic freedoms, including the ability to document events and communicate with the outside world.