Iran and Russia call Starlink’s operations illegal

At a U.N. scientific conference in Vienna, representatives of Iran and Russia said the Starlink satellite network operated by SpaceX violates international law, Bloomberg reported.

Iran said the “illegal operation” of the network on its territory infringes on its sovereignty, arguing that the commercial satellite mega-constellation is being used for military purposes without government authorization.

Russian officials said Starlink could be in breach of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, ratified by the United States and more than 100 countries, which requires space actors to consider the interests of other participants. Moscow said a large private satellite network may not align with the long-term sustainability of space activities.

Iran also raised objections at the U.N.’s International Telecommunication Union in Geneva, saying Starlink violates rules that prohibit providing telecommunications services without approval from national authorities.