According to the internet monitoring group NetBlocks, ordinary users’ access to the global internet inside Iran remains at roughly one percent, effectively isolating most citizens from international platforms.
The blackout — the third nationwide shutdown since the 12-day war in June — has severely limited the flow of information and made it nearly impossible for citizens to receive warnings about potential attacks or communicate with relatives.
Many Iranians who manage intermittent access through virtual private networks (VPNs) say the wartime blackout has deepened anxiety and isolation.
Several users have described the shutdown as comparable to a war crime because it disrupts civilian communication and limits access to critical information during attacks.
‘War crime’
One user wrote on X: “If a government deliberately cuts communications while providing no warning or protection mechanisms for civilians, and this leads to widespread harm, it could be examined as a serious violation of international obligations and in some circumstances even a war crime.”
Critics say authorities have not introduced any nationwide warning system to protect civilians from airstrikes. One user wrote that what they expected from government SMS alerts was “to tell me to take shelter because they’re bombing the street next to me—not to report the price of oil.”
Iranian newspaper Shargh highlighted the psychological toll in an article titled “The Sound of Bombs, the Silence of the Internet: The Iranian Psyche in Crisis.”
The paper wrote: “Restrictions on internet access and the circulation of incomplete information have made the true picture of the crisis more complex. Every rumor, every partial analysis and every tense environment erodes the collective psyche and intensifies the sense of insecurity.”
“When people face only the sound of fighter jets in silence and with limited information, the psychological impact of this crisis can be as significant as the physical destruction,” the article added.
Privileged access
Beyond the immediate risks, the shutdown has also inflicted economic damage, forcing many online businesses, freelancers and digital services to halt operations.
Heavy signal jamming has also made Persian-language satellite television channels difficult or impossible to receive in many areas. Without access to often costly VPNs, which only a minority can afford, state television has effectively become the primary source of information for many Iranians during wartime.
Government institutions and state-affiliated media have been sending mass text messages warning that those who access international internet services could face legal consequences, while also distributing official narratives and government-approved news.
Despite the restrictions on the general population, critics say some government figures—including Mohammad Marandi, who continues posting online and giving interviews to international media—retain unrestricted access.
Diaspora activist Azadeh Davachi wrote: “They cut the internet for the people while they themselves sit online tweeting and threatening the public. If you really care about the people, at least restore the internet.”
Calls for help
For millions of Iranians abroad, the blackout has meant losing nearly all contact with relatives inside the country. Many say they have had no news from family members since the war began.
International phone calls are also heavily restricted, often working only from inside Iran to outside and frequently dropping in less than a minute.
For diaspora communities already anxiously following the conflict, the prolonged silence has only deepened fears for loved ones inside Iran.
The prolonged shutdown has prompted calls from activists abroad for emergency connectivity solutions. Some diaspora campaigners have launched an online appeal using the hashtag DirectToCellForIran, urging Elon Musk to activate Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell service so mobile phones could connect directly to satellite internet.
One activist wrote: “We urge you to activate Starlink Direct-to-Cell in Iran, even on a trial or testing basis. This could be a vital solution for internet connectivity.”
