Reports related to internet shutdowns and filtering
The internet shutdown in Iran continues for 41 days, persisting even after the announcement of a ceasefire, according to NetBlocks.
On April 10, 2026, state media in Iran reported the arrest of at least seven citizens in Semnan Province, accusing them of ties to "hostile" media outlets. Meanwhile, Tasnim News Agency in North Khorasan Province announced the arrest of an individual charged with sending information about sensitive government institutions to international media.
Prince Reza Pahlavi, in a message to the people of Iran, stated that despite the regime's attempts to appear victorious amid internet restrictions and recent developments, it has actually accepted a ceasefire and is negotiating. He urged Iranians to remain patient and prepared, emphasizing that the regime will be overthrown by the power of a united nation.
NetBlocks, a website that monitors internet access levels worldwide, announced on X on Saturday that exactly one month has passed since Iran imposed a nationwide internet blackout following the strikes on Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's residence by Israel and the United States on February 28, 2025.
On Saturday, March 7, 2026, NetBlocks announced that Iran's internet shutdown had entered its twenty-eighth day, totaling 648 hours, with Iranians having spent over half of 2026 without international internet access. Fatemeh Mohajerani, spokesperson for the Iranian government, stated on February 8, 2026, that there are considerations for lifting the nationwide internet shutdown and measures are being devised to provide access to regime agents.
Iranian state media are using professionally produced, AI-generated animated videos with LEGO-like and anime-inspired aesthetics to narrate missile strikes and depict enemies, aiming to evade social media filters and spread messages globally without translation. This tactic is part of Iran's strategy to influence international public opinion on the current tensions.
Pete Hegseth, the US Secretary of War, stated that the United States is working on providing internet access to the people of Iran and that US forces' future actions in the Middle East will depend on national interests, without specifying plans for withdrawal after eliminating the threat posed by the Islamic Republic.
A brave Iranian individual is using Starlink to post updates from inside the conflict zone, risking their life with minimal attention from the international community. The poster represents the sentiment of 90 million people who believe the war is justified if it leads to regime change, considering the prospect of a continued Islamic Republic as far worse than the current casualties.
Iran has experienced a total internet blackout for approximately 440 hours. Activists are urging tech companies, including Elon Musk, to find ways to reconnect Iranians to the outside world.
Israel claimed it destroyed a plane belonging to Ali Khamenei, the former leader of the Islamic Republic, at Tehran's Mehrabad Airport, describing it as a "strategic asset" used by senior officials for military purchases and communications with allied countries. Radio Farda and Iranian media have not verified this claim due to wartime conditions and internet outages.
On Monday, citizens in Tehran, Iran's capital, experienced massive explosions and ground tremors early in the morning, as the Islamic Republic continues to block internet access and report victories against U.S. and Israeli forces through state media.
An airstrike hit the central building of Sahab Pardaz Company in Tehran on March 8, according to images shared on social media. Sahab Pardaz is described by Iranian internet freedom activists as a key entity responsible for internet filtering and restricting access for millions of users.
