U.S. SECRETLY SENT STARLINK TERMINALS TO IRAN AFTER PROTEST CRACKDOWN The Trump administration covertly delivered about 6,000 Starlink satellite terminals to Iran after its regime violently suppressed protests in January and cut internet access, U.S. officials said. The move aimed to keep dissidents online. The State Department had purchased nearly 7,000 terminals earlier, redirecting funds from other internet-freedom programs. Trump was aware of the shipments, though it’s unclear if he personally approved them. Owning Starlink is illegal in Iran, yet tens of thousands of Iranians use them to bypass government censorship. The White House declined comment, though Trump publicly encouraged Iranians to protest, promising “help is on its way.” Officials debated whether Starlink would be safer or more effective than VPNs, which are cheaper and harder for the regime to track. Some U.S. VPN providers have seen funding reduced due to Starlink purchases. The deliveries reflect a previously undisclosed level of U.S. support for antiregime movements, even as Washington and Tehran negotiate Iran’s nuclear program.(*Walter Bloomberg)