Danon's Starlink offer to Iranian envoy draws millions of views, many from Iran
Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon offered a Starlink device to an Iranian representative after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu displayed one during his General Assembly speech. The exchange was posted online and drew about 9 million views, with analytics indicating nearly 40% of Instagram viewers were in Iran. The Iranian representative declined to accept the device.
The exchange followed Netanyahu’s UN General Assembly address, where he held up a Starlink unit while speaking to Iranians. Danon’s office said Netanyahu arranged for the device to be passed to Iran’s delegation afterward; the Iranian representative refused it. Danon shared footage of the moment online, and it drew roughly nine million views.
Instagram data supplied to Fox News Digital showed 39.9% of viewers were in Iran, ahead of the U.S. at 14.3%, Israel at 12.6%, Canada at 5.9%, and Germany at 4.1%. Danon’s office also noted that an older clip from September 2023—showing predecessor Gilad Erdan being removed from the assembly during a protest tied to Ebrahim Raisi’s speech—was being recirculated.
The video’s reach inside Iran may amplify outside information about satellite internet and censorship, potentially affecting Iranians seeking uncensored access and Israeli public diplomacy efforts. It could also deepen online polarization, as recirculated older footage may confuse audiences about current events. Diplomats and social media platforms may face greater scrutiny over viral content, while the Iranian representative’s refusal could reinforce existing official positions rather than change them.