Iran's Wartime Internet Shutdown Breaks Grim Record

Iran's Internet Shutdown Enters Record-Breaking Territory

The Iranian government's near-total internet shutdown has surpassed the longest nationwide blackout on record in any country, according to a global monitor.

Connectivity to the global internet has been limited to around one percent of pre-war levels since February 28, when the United States and Israel launched their war on Iran, according to NetBlocks.

Another 20-day internet shutdown was imposed in January, resulting in thousands of deaths during nationwide protests, leaving most Iranian civilians with close to two-thirds of 2026 spent in digital darkness.

The government has allowed a limited and at times slow intranet to provide basic services and access to state-run news and messaging services.

NetBlocks stated that Iran is the first country to have experienced internet connectivity followed by a nationwide shutdown, reverting to a national network.

While other countries have experienced longer intermittent blackouts, none have had a state-imposed shutdown at this scale for this long, with no wars sending an entire country offline like Iran.

The government has not explained how it expects the country's battered digital sector and globally isolated economy to survive the coming months and years, even with a potential diplomatic breakthrough.

Many Iranian civilians are struggling to find employment, with a product designer at a technology firm in Karaj near Tehran being laid off, and a senior data analyst at a Tehran-based firm offering lower pay raises to avoid downsizing.

The devastating bombing of Iran's top steel factories, petrochemical firms, and other civilian infrastructure is expected to exacerbate economic conditions, already defined by rampant inflation and high unemployment.

Only a minority of Iranians have access to the internet, either through being whitelisted by the state or purchasing proxy connections, which can be taken down by the authorities at any time.

Some state supporters have expressed happiness with the situation, while many others are left in the dark with an uncertain future.