Iran‘s government has escalated its efforts to suppress dissent by implementing one of the longest internet shutdowns in the nation’s history. In a bid to quell massive anti-government protests, officials cut access to both internet and phone services across the country on January 8. This internet blackout has left more than 92 million Iranians without connectivity for more than a week. Beyond its immediate impact, it underscores the government’s long-term strategy of severely curtailing or shutting down internet access in times of civil unrest.
The current blackout is now the third longest recorded in Iran, following previous shutdowns that lasted 163 hours in 2019 and 160 hours in 2025. This latest disruption is changing by the minute. If the blackout continues, it will soon rank among the world’s top ten longest intentional internet shutdowns.
The Iranian leadership made the conscious decision to cut communications after seeing an unprecedented tidal wave of protests. According to some estimates, more than 600 protests sparked in major cities. These protests were sparked by a heavy-handed crackdown by government forces on protestors. This brutal response has resulted in thousands of unnecessary deaths. Estimates indicate over 2,000 people have been killed in the violence, including convicted police assassins.
On Wednesday, Iran shut down all internet access and closed its airspace to civilian flights. This decision only deepened the country’s alienation during a period of widespread unrest. The U.S. military has very quickly surged a naval strike group from the South China Sea to the Middle East. This shift marks an escalation in their concerns regarding Iran’s activities, as tensions with Tehran continue to increase.
Even President Donald Trump himself has commented on the state of affairs. He warned of US military intervention should Iranian forces persist in their bloody crackdown on the protests. He stated, “the killing has stopped and the executions won’t take place,” suggesting an expectation that government violence should cease.
Read together, it’s clear that the Biden administration has responded to this ongoing crisis with a powerful policy shift. They’ve managed to muscle out an exemption from U.S. sanctions against Iran through to broader support for internet freedom. This legislative measure would help improve access to communication technologies among households impacted by the ongoing government shutdown.
Despite the harsh restrictions, a dedicated group of Iranians has managed to circumvent the blackout. Now, they’re making do with Starlink terminals that have been smuggled into the country. These terminals represent one of the few opportunities for internet access available today, as hundreds of millions remain disconnected from essential opportunities and services.
In reaction to these recent events, the United Kingdom has cut diplomatic ties by closing their embassy in Tehran. They are preemptively evacuating staff as well. This decision comes amid increasing concerns over safety and stability within Iran during this volatile time.
Even as protests continue across Iran, the government maintains strict control over communication platforms. This means that the landscape is still very much up in the air and dynamic. Restoration advocates from all over the world are looking on as these events unfold. They’re looking particularly to the international response, to see how this series of protests plays out in influencing the broader region.
