Iran has been in one of the most extreme internet shutdowns in history for 10 days, leaving its 92 million citizens cut off from online services, phone networks, and text messaging.
The blackout began on January 8, apparently to suppress dissent and prevent international scrutiny of the government’s response to widespread protests.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the shutdown as a response to “terrorist operations” orchestrated from abroad.
While the government has not specified when services will resume, reports suggest authorities may be planning long-term restrictions on international internet access.
On January 15, IranWire reported that government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani told journalists that international internet access would likely remain unavailable at least until the Iranian New Year at the end of March.
Observers at internet freedom group FilterWatch say Iran is rapidly implementing new systems and regulations to sever the country permanently from the global internet.
“There should be no expectation for reopening international internet access, and even afterwards, users’ access to the global internet will never return to previous levels,” FilterWatch reported, citing unnamed government sources.
BBC has not independently verified this report or its timing. Journalists speaking to BBC Persian also said they were told access would not be restored soon.
From temporary shutdowns to a full “communication blackout”
Iran has long tightly controlled the internet, blocking most Western social media platforms and international news websites, including BBC News. Still, many users have accessed platforms like Instagram via VPNs.
Activists from Access Now note that Iran has repeatedly used internet shutdowns to hide mass violence and repression during protests, as seen in November 2019 and September 2022.
According to Kentik traffic data, there was a minor increase in inbound traffic in Iran starting at 3:42 a.m. local time on January 17, but connectivity remains extremely limited—about 0.2% of pre-shutdown levels.
Previous blackouts occurred during events like the Iran-Israel conflict in June 2025, but the current shutdown has lasted longer than any previous interruption.
Access Now warned:
“Restricting access to these essential services not only endangers lives, but encourages authorities to hide and evade accountability for human rights violations.”
The blackout is already severely impacting livelihoods, with e-commerce particularly affected.
As of January 18, the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) estimates over 3,300 confirmed protester deaths, with more than 4,380 under review, and 24,266 arrests across 187 cities. The real numbers are believed to be significantly higher due to lack of verification access.
Why the protests and U.S. involvement?
The internet monitoring project FilterWatch describes the blackout as the start of an extreme “digital isolation” with heightened government oversight of online content.
Amir Rashidi, director of cybersecurity and digital rights at Miaan Group (which runs FilterWatch), told BBC that authorities appear to be moving toward a tiered system in which global internet access is not automatic but requires approval. He added that the technical infrastructure for such a system has existed for years.
Who controls Iran’s internet?
FilterWatch says that decisions about internet access are increasingly concentrated within security agencies rather than civilian ministries, and the government may also justify restrictions as protection against high-profile cyberattacks.
This latest move reflects the Iranian authorities’ attempt to tighten control over information, block dissent, and maintain dominance amid one of the largest protest movements the country has seen in decades.
