Internet blackout in Iran lasts more than 888 hours — NetBlocks

Iran's Internet Blackout Becomes Longest Nationwide Shutdown on Record

Iran's state-imposed near-total internet blackout has become the longest nationwide shutdown on record in any country, according to the London-based internet monitor NetBlocks. Connectivity to the global internet has been at around one percent of pre-war levels since shortly after the United States and Israel launched their war on Iran on February 28, as reported by Al Jazeera and Deutsche Welle.

The blackout, which has now lasted more than 38 days, has left most of Iran's population of over 90 million people disconnected from the outside world. NetBlocks reported that the shutdown is entering its 38th day, with the general public cut off from international networks for over 888 hours, as noted by TASS. The monitor has described this as the longest nationwide internet blackout ever recorded globally.

Coverage Comparison

Reporting on the blackout has been consistent across several international outlets, though with varying emphases. Al Jazeera and Deutsche Welle have both highlighted the severe impact on Iranian citizens and businesses, with connectivity reduced to about 2 percent of pre-war levels, according to monitors cited by Al Jazeera. Deutsche Welle noted that the restrictions have had far broader consequences than protecting national security or silencing dissent, leaving businesses unable to function and families cut off from one another.

The Guardian reported that the shutdown, which began shortly after the first US-Israel strikes in late February, is the longest national-scale blackout since the Arab spring. The report quotes Amir Rashidi, director of Miaan Group, an Iran-focused human rights organisation, saying that Iranians often are not aware of the full scale of the destruction and other developments, as their only sources are Iranian state television and one satellite channel.

TASS, citing NetBlocks, reported that internet connectivity in Iran has been almost completely unavailable for 37 days, and noted that the US and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on February 28, striking major cities including Tehran.

Key Claims

• Iran's state-imposed near-total internet shutdown is the longest nationwide blackout on record, according to NetBlocks, as reported by Al Jazeera and TASS.
• Connectivity to the global internet has been at around one percent of pre-war levels since late February, according to NetBlocks, as reported by Al Jazeera.
• The Iranian government has imposed a near-total internet shutdown across Iran, reducing connectivity to about 2 percent of pre-war levels at most, according to monitors cited by Al Jazeera.
• The shutdown has lasted more than 38 days, as reported by The Guardian and Al Jazeera.
• Iranian authorities have been slowly expanding a list of individuals and entities deemed eligible to have limited internet access, including a service called Internet Pro, as reported by Al Jazeera.
• Iran's Ministry of Education has announced that classes will be held online via a dedicated platform and through the state-run television program 'Iran TV School', as reported by Deutsche Welle.
• The country remains largely disconnected from the global internet, with most traffic running through a national intranet that is heavily restricted, as reported by Deutsche Welle.
• The internet shutdown has had far broader consequences than protecting national security or silencing dissent, including leaving businesses unable to function and families cut off from one another, as reported by Deutsche Welle.

Perspectives

Iranian Government

The Iranian government has imposed the internet shutdown, citing national security concerns. According to a Deutsche Welle report, supporters of the regime say foreign agents, Israeli Mossad spies, and government opponents are going online to send videos and images of sensitive military and state sites abroad. The government has also implemented a limited internet access program, allowing selected individuals and businesses to connect through a metered service called Internet Pro, as reported by Al Jazeera.

International Monitors and Experts

NetBlocks and other internet monitors have documented the scale and duration of the blackout, calling it the longest nationwide shutdown on record. Doug Madory, director of internet analysis at Kentik, told The Guardian that while there have been longer outages at a sub-national level, this has been the longest and most severe nation-scale blackout since the Arab spring. He added that the fact the Iranian government continues to block internet access suggests that the structures of the regime have not changed very much.

Cybersecurity Expert Amir Rashidi

Amir Rashidi, director of the Miaan Group, a US-based organization advocating for human rights and digital freedom in Iran, told The Guardian that Iranians are often unaware of the full scale of the destruction and other developments because their access to information is limited to state-controlled sources. In a Deutsche Welle report, he said, "The internet blockade in Iran will most likely never be fully lifted."

Advocacy for a Digital Marshall Plan

A Jerusalem Post opinion piece, authored by Dr. Iman Foroutan of The Media Line, argues for a "Digital Marshall Plan" to deliver hundreds of thousands of Starlink terminals to Iran through covert channels, enabling Iranians to access the open internet. The piece, which describes the blackout as a tool of the regime to hide the truth, suggests that connecting Iranians to the internet would help expose the regime's actions and allow free communication.

This article was compiled from reporting by Al Jazeera, Deutsche Welle, The Guardian, TASS, and the Jerusalem Post.