has entered Iran's internet blackout its 30th consecutive day, an unprecedented move given its timing, coinciding with escalating geopolitical tensions and regional conflicts involving the United States and Israel. This ongoing outage has isolated millions of Iranians from the outside world, depriving them of access to free information and communication with their families abroad.
International reports confirm the extent of digital isolation
NetBlocks, a group specializing in monitoring internet security and freedom worldwide, confirmed via its X platform account that the internet blackout in Iran has entered its fifth week. The platform explained that strict nationwide censorship measures continue after more than 696 hours of being blocked. While the internal internet (intranet) remains operational, powering local messaging applications, banking platforms, and government services, access to the global internet is severely restricted, making browsing international news sites or using social media virtually impossible.
The historical context of internet censorship policy in Iran
This internet blackout is not an isolated or unprecedented event in Iran; rather, it is an extension of a systematic policy pursued by the authorities over the past years. Historically, the Iranian government has resorted to shutting down the internet during periods of crisis and tension, as was the case during the widespread protests of 2019 and 2022. For over a decade, the state has invested billions of dollars in developing what is known as the “National Information Network,” a closed, domestic internet network designed to reduce reliance on foreign servers. This approach grants the authorities the ability to disconnect the country from the outside world at the push of a button, while maintaining essential domestic services to prevent a complete national collapse.
The suffering of citizens: firsthand stories from within
Faced with this reality, many Iranians had no choice but to rely on state-controlled platforms or resort to very expensive alternatives to communicate with their loved ones. Maryam, a 33-year-old private sector employee, recounts her ordeal: “The first few weeks of the blackout were very difficult, especially at the beginning of the war. I had no way to contact my family in another city except through traditional phone calls.” She adds, “Now we use an Iranian messaging app to make video calls. It’s not ideal, but we’re adapting to these difficult circumstances.”.
On the other hand, those with relatives abroad face a real crisis. “My family lives in Turkey, and I have no way of contacting them online,” says Milad, a 27-year-old clothing salesman. “I have to make direct international phone calls, which are very expensive, so I rarely hear from them.” Some journalists, like AFP correspondents, have managed, with great difficulty, to contact residents in Iran via apps like WhatsApp and Telegram, and only for short, intermittent periods, using VPNs to bypass the censorship.
The regional and international impact of information withholding
Domestically, these restrictions severely limit access to information, confining users to local media and government platforms, which provide a one-sided and incomplete picture of current events. Regionally and internationally, this blackout is causing widespread concern among human rights organizations, which consider internet access a fundamental right. This censorship also hinders the international community's ability to monitor the situation inside Iran and exacerbates the anxiety of Iranian communities abroad, who are living in near-total isolation from their families amidst a highly complex regional situation.
