Following severe US-Israel strikes on Iranian infrastructure, local Telegram channels are capitalizing on communication disruptions by advertising high-priced black market "Starlink" internet packages payable in cryptocurrency.
Amid the unprecedented US and Israeli military strikes that severely damaged Iranian infrastructure and coincided with the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as Supreme Leader, black-market internet services are proliferating on Iranian Telegram channels. Channels traditionally focused on breaking conflict updates and live currency exchange rates are utilizing their platforms to sell what they claim to be stable Starlink internet connections.
According to a broadcast advertisement from اخبارفوری جنگ قیمتلحظهای دلار طلا (Breaking News War Live Price Dollar Gold)—a channel operating with an apparent commercial and opportunist stance during the ongoing crisis—vendors currently have "2 connected and stable services with space speed" available for purchase.The advertisement lists multiple data tiers priced heavily in US dollars, accompanied by conversions to local currency: Silver Plan (High-Speed Starlink): Described as recommended for "90 percent of activities" such as web browsing and social media (Instagram, Telegram, WhatsApp). Pricing starts at $12 (1,860,000) for 3 gigabytes and scales up to $52 (8,060,000) for 20 gigabytes. Turquoise Plan (Urban Fiber Optic Starlink): Targeted specifically at "traders or gamers who want low ping and high speed," offering 30 gigabytes for $63 (9,765,000) or 50 gigabytes for $98 (15,190,000).
The source channels are explicitly commercializing the communication disruptions, advertising technically paradoxical services (such as 'Urban fiber optic Starlink'). The prices suggest an active black-market exchange rate of exactly 155,000 local currency units (Tomans) to 1 USD.