Iran’s internet shutdown is now one of its longest ever, as protests continue

As of Thursday, over 92 million residents of Iran have been cut off from the internet for more than a week, marking one of the longest nationwide internet shutdowns in the country’s history. This blackout was initiated last Thursday by Iran's authorities in response to widespread anti-government protests that erupted late last year, sparking a severe crackdown on dissent. Currently, Iranians have been without internet access for over 170 hours. Previous shutdowns in the nation lasted about 163 hours in 2019 and 160 hours in 2025, according to Isik Mater, the research director at NetBlocks, a firm that monitors internet disruptions. Mater noted that this ongoing blackout ranks as the third longest recorded globally, following Sudan’s lengthy shutdown in mid-2021 and Mauritania's in July 2024. Mater further emphasized that Iran's internet shutdowns are among the most extensive and rigorously enforced, severely limiting communication for a significant portion of the population. Zach Rosson, a researcher at the digital rights organization AccessNow, indicated that if the current trend continues, Iran's shutdown could potentially enter the top ten longest shutdowns in history. The Iranian government has a notorious history of restricting internet access during periods of civil unrest, complicating external monitoring efforts of the protests. Reports suggest that there have been over 600 protests throughout various Iranian cities, with a human rights organization estimating that the government's violent response has resulted in the deaths of at least 2,000 individuals. The sudden internet blackout on January 8 also impacted government agencies, including the foreign ministry. Although some governmental departments and parts of the economy, such as banking and gas station payment systems, have regained internet access, the situation remains precarious. A limited number of Iranians have reportedly been using smuggled Starlink terminals to bypass the restrictions. In 2022, the Biden administration took steps to facilitate internet access for Iranians, allowing U.S. tech firms to provide connectivity. However, Iranian authorities have responded by criminalizing the use of Starlink devices, jamming signals, and seizing the equipment. In the midst of these developments, U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened military action if the Iranian regime continues its violent crackdown, all while decreasing military presence in Qatar due to concerns about potential retaliation. While Trump claimed that he had received information suggesting that violence had ceased, he acknowledged uncertainty about the situation. Additionally, the United Kingdom has closed its embassy in Tehran and evacuated its personnel as tensions escalate, with Iran temporarily closing its airspace as of Wednesday.