Iranian state media has aired footage from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport, claiming a Dutch diplomat attempted to bring Starlink equipment and satellite phones into the country and that the devices were confiscated.

The Netherlands says the core issue is not “smuggling” but a breach of diplomatic protections: Dutch officials say Iranian authorities forced the handover of diplomatic luggage, called it “unacceptable,” and summoned Iran’s ambassador in The Hague after the footage surfaced.

Dutch outlets report the diplomat involved was André van Wiggen, a senior official at the Dutch embassy in Tehran, and note The Hague is refusing to discuss the contents, arguing diplomatic shipments are protected under the Vienna Convention.

Starlink and satellite phones matter because they can bypass the Islamic Republic’s communications controls, which Tehran treats as a national-security threat during unrest and information crackdowns.