Ask Onix
Updated 18 January 2026 - Iran remains in the grip of an unprecedented communications shutdown, with 92 million citizens severed from global internet services for ten consecutive days.
Government severs connections to suppress protests
Iranian authorities disabled nationwide internet access on 8 January, disrupting phone calls and text messaging alongside online services. The move followed a surge in anti-government demonstrations, which officials claim were orchestrated from abroad as "terrorist operations." Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated the blackout was a necessary response to external threats.
Permanent restrictions under consideration
While the government has not announced a timeline for restoring connectivity, reports suggest authorities may be laying groundwork for lasting controls. On 15 January, government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani told journalists that international web access would remain suspended until at least the Iranian New Year in late March, according to the news outlet IranWire.
Internet monitoring group FilterWatch, citing unnamed government sources, warned that even after services resume, access to the global internet "will never return to its previous form." The BBC could not independently confirm these plans, though journalists speaking to BBC Persian reported similar expectations.
Economic and humanitarian toll mounts
The shutdown has crippled e-commerce and disrupted daily life, compounding the crisis. Human rights groups estimate at least 3,300 protesters have been killed since the crackdown began, with another 4,380 deaths under review. Authorities have detained 24,266 people across 187 cities, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA). The true figures are likely higher, as the blackout prevents independent verification.
Digital rights advocates at Access Now condemned the shutdown, stating that such measures "endanger lives and enable authorities to conceal human rights abuses." The group noted Iran has repeatedly used internet blackouts to mask violence during protests, including during the 2019 and 2022 uprisings and the 2025 Iran-Israel conflict.
Surveillance and tiered access on the horizon
FilterWatch director Amir Rashidi told the BBC that Iran is accelerating plans for a "digital isolation" regime, where access to the global internet would require government approval. The technical infrastructure for such a system has existed for years, but decisions are now being driven by security agencies rather than civilian ministries.
"There should be no expectation of reopening international internet access, and even afterwards, users' access will never return to its previous form."
FilterWatch
Cybersecurity expert Professor Alan Woodward of Surrey University suggested the regime may be using the current blackout as cover to implement long-term controls. "Iran seems to be moving toward a system where no electronic access is permitted unless approved by the government," he said.
Global precedents and technological countermeasures
If implemented, Iran's model would mirror systems in China and Russia. China's "Great Firewall" blocks most Western platforms, while Russia has tested a "kill switch" to sever its internet from the global web during crises. Unlike China, which integrated controls early, Russia and Iran are retrofitting restrictions onto existing infrastructure, a process analysts say is fraught with technical and political challenges.
Starlink and other satellite-based internet services have complicated Iran's efforts to enforce the blackout. Despite government jamming, some Starlink terminals remain operational after firmware updates, and the company waived subscription fees for Iranian users. Emerging technologies, such as mesh networks using Bluetooth, also offer workarounds, though Woodward cautioned that repressive regimes will continue adapting.
"Internet access will eventually become truly universal, but it will always be a cat-and-mouse game for repressive regimes."
Professor Alan Woodward, University of Surrey
Uncertain future for Iran's digital landscape
While technical hurdles and economic pressures may delay or dilute Iran's plans, Rashidi argued the primary obstacle is political will. The regime's ability to enforce permanent restrictions will depend on its resolve to navigate internal power struggles and public resistance. For now, Iran's 92 million citizens remain cut off, with no clear end in sight.
