Iranian state media Fars News Agency reported on June 12 that Iran has placed all of Musk’s business entities in the Middle East within the scope of potential targeting, including the Starlink network services operated by SpaceX, as well as Starlink ground stations and SpaceX partner facilities in Qatar, Jordan, the UAE, and Oman.
Confirmed contents reported by Fars News Agency
The following content is based on claims by “insiders” cited by Fars News Agency. It is a unilateral statement by Iranian media and has not yet been verified by SpaceX, the White House, or independent third-party sources:
Named scope: all “economically related enterprises managed in West Asia” by Musk
Confirmed locations involved: Starlink ground stations and SpaceX partner facilities in Qatar, Jordan, the UAE, and Oman
Accused roles: the relevant companies are said to take on roles supporting U.S. military operations, involving operational support for airstrikes by drones and unmanned reconnaissance vessels; it claims that Musk’s companies “were used this week to launch an attack on Iran’s southern water infrastructure”
Official position: “The Islamic Republic of Iran reserves the right to attack all facilities related to the enterprises managed by Musk in the region and in occupied territories.”
SpaceX and the White House: No response
As of the time of the Fars News Agency report and following CNBC interviews, SpaceX and the White House had not responded to CNBC’s requests for comment. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had previously issued threats to Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft, and Google.
SpaceX military contracts and commercial background
According to Reuters, the U.S. military has used Starlink to carry out kamikaze drone attacks against Iran. Last month, SpaceX received a $2.29 billion contract from the U.S. Space Force. The aim is to build a low Earth orbit satellite network to power military internet in space.
Since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began in 2022, Starlink has been widely used to support military communications. According to a Forbes report, Musk’s net worth is currently $784.8 billion, making him the richest person in the world.
FAQ
What kind of media is Fars News Agency, and how should the credibility of this report be assessed?
Fars News Agency is Iran’s state media and is affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. This report cites anonymous “insiders.” Iran’s allegations have not yet been verified by SpaceX, the White House, or independent third-party sources. As of the time of the report, SpaceX and the White House have both not responded to CNBC’s request for comment.
What confirmed U.S. military contracts does SpaceX hold?
Based on public information, last month SpaceX received a $2.29 billion contract from the U.S. Space Force to build a low Earth orbit satellite network to power military internet in space. Reuters had previously reported that the U.S. military used Starlink to carry out kamikaze drone attacks against Iran.
Which locations in the Middle East four countries named by Fars News Agency are involved?
According to Fars News Agency, citing “insiders,” the locations involved are Starlink ground station and SpaceX partner facilities in Qatar, Jordan, the UAE, and Oman. The above locations are unilateral reporting by Fars News Agency; the relevant national governments and SpaceX have made no response or confirmation regarding this.
