Iran’s state news agency Fars announced on March 26 , 2026 that every business linked to Elon Musk operating in the Middle East is now a lawful target. The declaration follows accusations that the US and Israeli forces have leveraged Musk‑run satellite services, including Starlink and the classified Starshield network, for military operations.

Fars Agency cites Starlink ground stations in five Gulf states

According to the report , Tehran specifically listed Starlink installations in Israel, Qatar, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Oman as being in its crosshairs. By naming each location, the Iranian statement signals a broad geographic scope that could affect both civilian broadband users and military communications reliant on the constellation.

Starshield’s role in US‑Israeli operations draws Tehran’s ire

The agency warned that Starshield, the secretive satellite arm dedicated to government and intelligence missions, has been used for "Earth observation, encrypted communications, and secure data transmission" in support of US‑Israeli strikes. As the report notes, the network has enabled drone attacks and aerial surveillance against Iranian targets, prompting Tehran to label it a direct threaat.

Previous threats against other US tech giants hint at a pattern

Iran has previously threatened companies such as Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft and Google, suggesting a broader strategy of pressuring Silicon Valley over perceived involvement in regional conflicts. The new Musk‑focused warning extends that pattern, indicating that Tehran may view any firm providing high‑tech infrastructure to the US military as a poteential adversary.

Starlink’s surge inside Iran after nationwide internet shutdown

After Tehran cut off public access to the global internet, the report says usage of Starlink within Iran spiked, allowing citizens to bypass censorship.. This civilian reliance on the service complicates the threat, as Iranian authorities now claim that even domestic users are indirectly supporting US‑Israeli military capabilities.

Who will bear the cost of Iran’s missile wave?

The announcement coincided with a video showing the "second phase of the 82nd wave" of missiles launched at Israeli and US bases in the UAE and Kuwait. while the source does not confirm any direct hits on Musk’s assets, the timing raises questions about whether Iran will follow through and what collateral damage could ensue for regional broadband users.