White House In Talks With Musk About Putting Starlink On The Ground In Iran, Report Says

Topline

The White House has held discussions with Elon Musk about putting Starlink internet terminals on the ground in Iran to aid protesters, according to CNN, turning to the billionaire despite reported national security concerns over his recent threat to cut off Starlink service to Ukraine and the involvement of foreign investors in his $44 billion deal to buy Twitter.

Key Facts

The White House reportedly sees SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service as a possible counter to internet crackdowns instituted by the Iranian government in response to nationwide protests over the September 16 death of a 22-year-old woman, who was in police custody after allegedly being detained for improperly wearing a headscarf.

The Biden Administration gave Musk the green light last month to position Starlink satellites to send signals to Iran, which are essentially useless without terminals on the ground to receive them.

The Iranian government has banned Starlink terminals, and it’s unclear whether the White House or Musk have developed any clandestine plan to somehow get them into the country.

It’s not known whether the federal government has offered to pay SpaceX for setting up and operating the terminals, CNN reported.

CNN’s story came just hours after Bloomberg reported the Biden Administration may launch a national security investigation into Musk over his approach to Starlink service in Ukraine and his acquisition of Twitter–the latter reportedly sparked concerns due to the presence of foreign investors like Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal and the Qatar Sovereign Wealth Fund in the deal.

Neither Musk nor the White House immediately responded to requests for comment from Forbes.

Key Background

The White House and Musk are coming off a recent public spat over continuing Starlink service in Ukraine, which has been a vital communication resource for Ukrainian forces since Russia began its invasion in February. SpaceX sent a letter to the Pentagon last month warning it could not continue funding its service to Ukraine without government subsidies, and Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh later said at a news conference the U.S. was reviewing “other entities that we can certainly partner with when it comes to providing Ukraine with what they need on the battlefield.” Musk relented last week, saying Starlink would keep serving Ukraine for “free,” though he added a bitter remark that the company “is still losing money & other companies are getting billions of taxpayer $.” Musk also raised eyebrows with recent “peace” suggestions for ending the war in Ukraine which included many pro-Russian proposals.

Big Number

At least 200. That’s how demonstrators died in Iran during the first month of protests, according to various human rights groups. The Iranian government has denied the woman, Mahsa Amini, was killed by police, insisting she instead died as the result of a fall.

Tangent

Musk exchanged a series of apparently friendly tweets with former Russian president and Putin confidant Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday night, which ended with Medvedev telling Musk, “See you in Moscow on…Victory Day!”

Forbes Valuation

We estimate Musk to be worth $212.1 billion, making him the richest person in the world.

Further Reading

‘See You In Moscow’: Elon Musk And Former Russian President Medvedev Engage In Odd Twitter Exchange (Forbes)

Musk Reverses Position, Says Starlink Can Serve Ukraine For ‘Free’ (Forbes)

Musk’s Twitter Deal And Starlink May Face National Security Review, Report Says (Forbes)

Musk’s Starlink May Bring Iran Internet Service During Government Crackdown (Forbes)

CNN Exclusive: After Ukraine, Biden administration turns to Musk’s satellite internet for Iran (CNN)