Iran's state media reports that all of Elon Musk's companies in the Middle East, including Starlink and X, are now considered military targets. Iran justifies the threat by accusing the U.S. of using the technology to commit war crimes. The announcement comes amid a sharp military escalation, with the U.S. launching retaliatory strikes and President Trump threatening further attacks and the seizure of Iran's Kharg Island oil hub.
Iran threat against Musk companies
- ▪Iran will treat all of Elon Musk's companies in the Middle East, including SpaceX's Starlink and X, as military targets
- ▪The threat was reported on June 11, 2026, by Iran's state-run Fars News Agency
- ▪Iran stated it reserves the right to strike all Musk-affiliated facilities in the region, including Starlink ground stations in Qatar, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, and Oman
U.S.-Iran military escalation
- ▪As part of the escalation, President Donald Trump announced the U.S. will seize control of Kharg Island, Iran's central oil export hub, and other oil infrastructure
- ▪The threat against Musk's companies occurred amid recent military exchanges, including Iran allegedly downing a U.S. Army helicopter on June 8, 2026
- ▪Hours after his threat, President Trump claimed he had canceled the strikes because a peace deal had been reached
- ▪On June 11, 2026, President Donald Trump threatened on Truth Social to attack Iran "VERY HARD TONIGHT."
- ▪President Trump stated in a Fox News interview that the U.S. "dropped $250 million worth of bombs on them last night."
- ▪The U.S. launched retaliatory strikes against Iran on June 9 and June 10, 2026
Starlink military operations support
- ▪SpaceX's Starshield is a version of the Starlink satellite network designed specifically for government, intelligence, and defense customers
- ▪The U.S. military has used the Starlink network to guide kamikaze drones in its conflict with Iran
- ▪In May 2026, the U.S. Space Force awarded SpaceX a $2.29 billion contract to build a military satellite network in low Earth orbit
- ▪An unnamed source cited by Fars News Agency accused the U.S. military of using Musk-linked companies to commit war crimes, including attacks on southern Iran's water infrastructure
- ▪Iran's justification for the threat is the alleged use of Starlink infrastructure and the X platform by the U.S. and Israeli military
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