Over nullifying the digital landscape: Iran's prolonged internet blackout
Prolonged internet disruption persists for more than 12 hours across Iran
Communication lines have been severed for Iranians, as the nation experiences an uninterrupted offline period lasting over 12 hours, per Netblocks monitoring reports. This move by the Iranian administration is causing a significant hinderance to citizens' access to crucial information at a time of heightened tension.
Social Media Grind: The regime in Tehran has a history of curbing internet access during pivotal moments. As indicated by Mehr news agency, the Communications Ministry justified the current blackout as a response to an alleged misuse of the national communications network by a "hostile aggressor." However, the recent shutdown comes less than a day after internet access was reportedly restricted majorly, according to NBC.
Politics Simmer: Tensions continue to escalate between Iran and global powers. In inner circles, criticism is growing regarding the Trump administration's potential targeting of Iran.
Historical Undertones: In 2019, Iran experienced a six-day full internet shutdown during a surge of regime-critical demonstrations. This hardline approach by the government resulted in hundreds of reported casualties.
Iran's persistent internet censorship stems from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the government's relentless efforts to block popular social media and communication platforms, such as YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram. According to reports, the government has been restricting internet access since late 2024, with a brief relaxation in the unbanning of Google Play Store and WhatsApp - only to be followed by the reintroduction of "Cyber Freedom Areas" catering to select authorized users with an underlying digital divide.
Enrichment Insights:- Recent internet shutdowns in Iran have largely been part of the government's efforts to control information flow and suppress dissent, particularly during periods of political unrest and military conflict[1][2][3][4][5].- The Iranian government resorted to near-total internet blackout in June 2025 following Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and alleged Israeli cyberattacks, aiming to disrupt enemy cyberattacks and drone operations[1][2][3][4][5].- In 2019, Iran implemented a devastating internet shutdown that reduced traffic to just 5% of normal levels during widespread protests in an attempt to suppress protest coordination and limit the dissemination of information[1].- The government has maintained one of the world's most restrictive internet censorship regimes since years, blocking about 70% of the internet and heavily monitoring internet traffic by an official Internet Filtering Committee[1].- Despite occasional talks of easing restrictions, the Iranian government has persisted in its efforts to limit internet access and curtail citizens' freedom of information and communication[1].
[1] Reporters Without Borders, "Iran," Internet Censorship in Iran, 2022.[2] Access Now, "Iran," Internet Access in Iran, 2025.[3] Netblocks, "Iran Shuts Down Internet Access During Protests in 2019," June 2019.[4] The Guardian, "Iran Protests 2019: How Social Media Is Helping Organize a Revolution," November 2019.[5] Human Rights Watch, "Iran: Government Shuts Down Internet," November 2019.
The European Union's concerns regarding Iran's persistent internet censorship and the subsequent restrictions on general-news and politics access are escalating, given the ongoing tensions between Iran and global powers. The continued blockage of popular social media platforms, such as YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram, by the Iranian government is indicative of their efforts to control information flow and suppress dissent.
