Iran is experiencing an internet shutdown that began in late February 2026, shortly after the first US-Israel strikes. The shutdown has lasted more than 38 days as of early April 2026, marking what multiple reports indicate is the longest nation-scale internet blackout since the Arab Spring. Internet connectivity in Iran is drastically reduced, with estimates ranging from less than 2% of the population connected to around 1% of normal levels. Iranian authorities cut all internet access on 28 February 2026, the day the war began, according to major media reports. This prolonged disruption has created severe information deprivation, with the number of people directly affected by economic loss or information deprivation not yet confirmed.
Most Iranians can only access the National Information Network (NIN), a government-monitored domestic network separate from the global internet. A large share of connected users have 'white SIM cards' with fewer restrictions granted at the government's discretion, according to major media reports. Severe censorship is imposed on domestic search engines; searches for 'war' or 'ceasefire' yield no results or show results about Iran's decisive victory, multiple reports indicate. The current status of the National Information Network and its accessibility for ordinary Iranians is uncertain, as the government has not provided detailed updates.
The market for VPNs and connection 'configs' has surged, with prices ranging from approximately £7 to £15 per GB to $6 to $24 per GB, according to multiple reports. If a VPN connection cuts out, the data bought is gone and cannot be refunded, major media reports state. Services keeping users connected use multiple pathways and communication layers rather than traditional single-route VPNs, sources said. This underground market highlights the desperation for connectivity, though its reliability is precarious and costly for a population facing economic hardship.
Extreme measures have emerged for international communication. A man on the Iran-Turkey border sells a service using two phones to connect international calls via WhatsApp, as international calls into Iran are blocked, according to major media reports. Calling abroad rarely works the first time, and calls usually last two or three minutes before cutting out, multiple sources indicate. With money transfer fees, it costs about £28 ($38) for a four- or five-minute call via the border service, reports say. Some Iranians travel overland to Turkey to connect online, highlighting the lengths to which people will go to bypass the blackout.
Armin dismissed everything that Trump said about the Iranian regime now being different.
The Iranian regime has made repeated crackdowns against users of Elon Musk-owned satellite network Starlink. The monthly minimum wage in Iran is only $100, making alternative connectivity methods like VPNs or border services financially out of reach for many, major media reports indicate. This economic context exacerbates the digital divide, as those with resources can sometimes find ways to connect while others are completely cut off.
Iran's internet restrictions operate on a twofold logic involving external sanctions and internal government policies, according to research sources. International sanctions disproportionately impact ordinary users, businesses, and students in Iran by limiting access to global services and platforms, research indicates. The Iranian government implements restrictions such as blocking essential websites and services, justified as protecting local markets, cybersecurity, or cultural values, sources said. The poor quality of Iran's internet stems primarily from internal government policies like content filtering and deep packet inspection, rather than technological shortcomings, research suggests. The government's creation of the National Information Network and reliance on domestic platforms fragments internet access, creating a two-tiered system favoring state-controlled content, according to studies.
An earlier shutdown in January 2026 involved disruptions to telephone and internet services in Tehran and other cities, research indicates. Iran's National Information Network was fully disconnected, even internally, during the January 2026 shutdown, sources said. The blackout was relaxed on 28 January 2026, but severe restrictions remained in place, according to research. The shutdown cost Iran's economy $35.7 million a day, according to the Iranian Minister of Communications, as reported by research sources. Online sales fell by 80% during the shutdown, and the Tehran Stock Exchange lost significant points and value, while the number of financial transactions in Iran dropped by 185 million in January 2026, research indicates.
Human rights organisations described the blackout as an attempt to cover up the 2026 Iran massacres, according to research sources. Iran has historically blocked the internet to suppress protests, including in 2019, 2022, and 2025, research indicates. From 2022 to 2024, Iran banned WhatsApp and Google Play during the Mahsa Amini protests, sources said. Internet shutdowns and filtering are central to the Islamic Republic's control over information flows in Iran, research suggests. The government regularly shuts down or limits internet access in anticipation of protests, and during the protests of November 2019, the Iranian government imposed a full six-day internet blackout, according to studies.
Bullshit.
The escalation after US-Israel strikes led to a renewed near-total blackout. As of February 16, 2026, internet traffic levels in Iran were reduced by 50%, research indicates. In February 2026, internet prices increased by 18%, bringing the total increase to 52%, sources said. Following the 28 February Israeli–United States strikes on Iran, there was a renewed 'near total' internet blackout, with connectivity dropping to 4% of ordinary levels, according to research. As of 6 March 2026, internet traffic was measured at about 1% of normal connectivity, and on 29 March 2026, the shutdown entered its 30th day, with it still ongoing as of 3 April, research indicates.
Personal testimonies highlight the isolation effects. The internet shutdown has led to testimonies from the country not reaching out, according to official sources. Cecilia Uddén, the Middle East correspondent, has made contact with a man in Iran named Armin, sources said. Armin dismissed everything that Trump said about the Iranian regime now being different, according to Sveriges Radio Nyheter. Armin wrote disparagingly about Trump's statements, according to the same source.
The triggers and justifications for the shutdown extend beyond the initial war context, though the Iranian government's official justification for the prolonged internet shutdown remains unspecified.
International and domestic responses have been muted, with no widespread protests reported due to the communication blackout.
The economic and social consequences are severe, with daily losses in the millions and a collapse in online activity. The shutdown has fragmented society, creating a digital elite with access to restricted connections and a majority trapped on the censored National Information Network.
Key unknowns persist, including the specific triggers for the February shutdown and the number of people directly affected. The current status of the National Information Network is unclear, and there is no confirmation of diplomatic efforts to restore access. The government's official justification beyond the war context remains unstated.