Reports related to internet shutdowns and filtering
NetBlocks, an independent internet monitor, reported that Iran's internet blackout has surpassed 1,224 hours since the onset of the conflict between the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic, severely restricting internet access for most Iranians.
Tasnim News Agency, a media outlet affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Iran, has admitted to using cyberspace as a battlefield against the Iranian people, stating that cutting off international internet access is part of a "fifth theater of battle."
The Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, stated that cutting off the internet during wartime is a global defense standard and an accepted practice for national sovereignty, citing military strategies and experiences in hybrid warfare. The outlet argued that powerful countries do not compromise the security of their infrastructure for the free flow of information during conflicts.
Prince Reza Pahlavi, in a press conference following his speech at the Swedish Parliament, claimed that the Iranian regime's instability is evident from the killing of 40,000 people in two nights and internet shutdowns. He also stated that the Iranian people will not settle for anything less than regime change and are prepared to continue their struggle for change despite recent events.
According to NetBlocks, Iran's nationwide internet outage entered its 43rd day at dawn on Saturday, April 22, impacting millions since the start of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran. Despite a ceasefire and peace talks, Iranian officials have not addressed citizens' protests or restored internet access.
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.
