Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said he secretly helped smuggle thousands of Starlink receivers into Iran to maintain internet access during anti-government protests. He made the statement on Tuesday at the annual policy conference organized by the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) in Jerusalem. According to Bennett, the plan aimed to assist protesters as Iran’s authorities often cut internet connections during demonstrations.

Bennett explained that the initiative sought to ensure communication among demonstrators even when the government shut down the internet, enabling them to coordinate actions against the regime. He alleged that the program was halted after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government took office, which prevented the establishment of necessary infrastructure for later protests.

Reports indicate that the protests in Iran, which began late last year and intensified in January, resulted in numerous deaths. However, Bennett’s claim about smuggling Starlink receivers into Iran could not be independently verified.