The Russian delegation pointed to a potential violation of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which requires consideration of the interests of all participants in space activities. According to representatives from Moscow, the presence of an extensive satellite network controlled by a private company does not align with the principles of long-term sustainability in space activities. In this regard, Russia called for international discussions aimed at limiting the number of new satellites and clarifying the rules for the use of commercial satellite frequencies for military purposes, as reported by Bloomberg.
According to Iranian representatives, the "illegal use" of Starlink in Iran violates state sovereignty. Tehran claims that the "commercial satellite mega-group" is being used for military purposes without the permission of local authorities. Previously, Iran raised similar issues in the International Telecommunication Union, citing rules that prohibit the provision of telecommunications services without government consent.
Currently, SpaceX operates the Starlink satellite system, which consists of about 9,600 satellites. As noted by Bloomberg, this system is actively used by Ukrainian military personnel in their confrontation with Russia. At the same time, Russian military forces had also previously utilized Starlink, but in early February, Elon Musk disabled the satellite communication terminals for the Russian armed forces.
Although the use of Starlink is officially prohibited in Iran, approximately 50,000 terminals have been illegally imported into the country in recent years. During the protests in January, participants used this network when authorities restricted internet access, the agency emphasizes.
