Israel smuggled Starlink internet receivers into Iran to help anti-government protesters, former prime minister Naftali Bennett said on Tuesday.
However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government failed to follow through on the plans, Bennett added.
Bennett told an audience at the JNS International Policy Summit in Jerusalem that he had initiated a "process of acquiring and smuggling into Iran tens of thousands of Starlink receptors that would allow continuity of the internet and social networks."
Starlink, owned by Elon Musk's SpaceX, provides satellite internet connections. Iran has previously accused Israel and the United States of smuggling in the devices to undermine its security. Starlink is not licensed to operate in Iran, but Musk has previously said the service is active there.
Bennett said the devices were intended to enable protesters to coordinate and ultimately topple the Iranian government.
"Unfortunately, the current incompetent Israeli government stopped doing that," he said. "And when the protest happened, that infrastructure was not there."
Prime Minister's Office, SpaceX not issued response to Bennett's comments
Netanyahu’s office did not immediately respond to questions on Bennett’s remarks, and SpaceX was not available for comment outside US business hours.
Iranian authorities have shut down the public’s access to the internet during periods of unrest, including during deadly nationwide protests in January and February, and throughout operations Roaring Lion and Epic Fury.
Reuters has previously reported that some Iranians turned to Starlink during internet blackouts.
Bennett, leader of a right-wing party and one of several opposition politicians vying to replace Netanyahu in an election due by October, said that if he returned to office, he would work to undermine Iran's government with the aim of toppling it. That could include measures short of direct military attacks, such as economic and industrial sabotage, he said.