Iran internet blackout crosses 120 hours: Why Tehran is cracking down on anyone trying to get online

(FILES) A man browses a phone outside a building in Tehran on September 10, 2023. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP)

Iran’s internet blackout has lasted over 120 hours amid escalating conflict with Israel and the US, reducing connectivity to 1% of normal levels. Authorities are enforcing restrictions, leaving millions cut off and struggling to communicate or access vital information.

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Iran’s internet blackout has now crossed 120 hours, leaving most of the country effectively cut off from the outside world as the conflict with Israel and the United States intensifies. Internet monitoring organisation Netblocks said connectivity across Iran remains at barely one percent of normal levels, creating what observers describe as one of the most severe digital shutdowns in recent years.

The restrictions began shortly after the United States and Israel launched air strikes on Iranian targets on Saturday. Authorities moved quickly to shut down access to the global internet, plunging millions of Iranians into a near complete information blackout at a time when the country is facing missile strikes and military escalation.

Netblocks confirmed the scale of the disruption in a post on social media platform X. “Iran’s internet blackout has now exceeded 120 hours with connectivity still flatlining around 1 percent of ordinary levels," the organisation said.

Authorities tightening control over connectivity

Reports suggest that Iranian authorities are not only restricting internet access but also actively enforcing the blackout.

According to Netblocks, telecommunications companies in Iran have begun sending warning messages to users attempting to bypass restrictions and connect to the global internet. The messages reportedly threaten legal action against those trying to access outside networks.

This suggests that authorities are attempting to close even the small windows of connectivity that some residents have managed to find during the blackout.

Under normal circumstances, many Iranians rely on virtual private networks to bypass state restrictions on Western social media platforms such as Instagram and other services that remain blocked in the country.

However, the near total shutdown has made even these workarounds extremely difficult.

Satellite internet and brief moments online

Despite the restrictions, some Iranians have managed to briefly reconnect to the outside world.

A small number of users are reportedly relying on illegal subscriptions to Starlink, the satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk, to regain access to global communication networks.

Others have reported that internet connections occasionally become available for short periods during the day, allowing them to send messages before the network disappears again.

However, communication with Iran from abroad remains extremely difficult. Calls from overseas to Iranian mobile phones or landlines are described as nearly impossible during the blackout.

Residents struggle to share information

For those who manage to connect even briefly, sharing information has become a priority.

Shima, a 33 year old resident of Tehran, told AFP she was using her connection to relay updates about the situation in the capital to people who had no internet access.

“I need to call a lot of people, even strangers, on behalf of their families," she said.

Tehran has faced repeated missile and bombing strikes since the conflict began, making access to reliable information crucial for families trying to locate loved ones.

Travellers forced to flee without navigation

The internet shutdown is also creating dangerous conditions for people trying to leave the country.

Travellers near Iran’s borders say they have been forced to move without access to navigation tools such as Google Maps or communication services that would normally guide them during their journeys.

Without internet connectivity, many are relying on word of mouth directions or physical maps while attempting to reach safer areas.

A familiar tactic during crises

This is not the first time Iran has imposed sweeping internet shutdowns during periods of unrest or conflict.

Authorities previously restricted internet access during nationwide protests in January and again during the twelve day conflict with Israel last year.

Critics say such shutdowns are used by the government to control information flows, prevent coordination among protesters and limit the spread of images or reports from inside the country.

The latest blackout, now lasting more than five days, demonstrates how digital infrastructure can become a tool of state control during wartime. As the conflict continues, millions of Iranians remain largely cut off from the outside world, relying on rare moments of connectivity to share news and reach their families.