Musk’s Starlink in Crosshairs of Iran, Russia at UN Space Confab

Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite constellation violates international law while blurring the lines between commercial and military technologies, Iranian and Russian diplomats told a United Nations meeting.

The “illegal operation” of Starlink in Iran violates the country’s sovereignty and amounts to “unauthorized military use of a commercial satellite mega-constellation,” the Islamic Republic told a UN scientific meeting in Vienna late Monday.

The Kremlin delegation suggested that the SpaceX network may be violating a provision of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, ratified by the United States and more than 100 countries, that requires satellite operators to take into account the interests of other space actors.

In the statement made by Russia, it was stated that having large networks operated by private companies “is not very compatible with the long-term sustainability of space activities and space use.”

Criticisms made at the meeting of the UN’s Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space show how Starlink turns geopolitics upside down as usual.

SpaceX, which operates a network of about 9,600 satellites, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Starlink service has become an important communications link for Ukrainians fighting against Russia’s occupation and for Iranian opposition forces who took to the streets last month.

Although Starlink is technically illegal in Iran, it is estimated that around 50,000 terminals have been smuggled into the country in recent years. These connections allowed protesters to coordinate activities even as authorities banned other forms of communication.

The Vienna meeting is not the only UN forum where Iran is waging its fight against SpaceX. Tehran also argued at the Geneva-based International Telecommunications Union, the UN’s digital technologies agency, that the network violated rules banning the use of telecommunications services not authorized by national governments.

Russia demands international negotiations aimed at limiting the number of new satellites, as well as clarifying the military use of satellite frequencies registered for commercial purposes.

According to Russia’s statement, “The use of mega-constellations is concentrated in the hands of private companies, which is not compatible with the long-term sustainability of space.”

SpaceX is currently consulting with banks before launching an initial public offering that is expected to raise as much as $50 billion.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to the text.