Internet shutdown in Iran on February 28 – what is it connected with and what are the consequences?

Main points

• An almost complete internet outage has been recorded in Iran, with the connection level being about 4% of normal.
• The incident occurred against the backdrop of US and Israeli military operations, similar to measures taken during last year's war with Israel.

There is almost no internet in Iran / Collage by Channel 24

Iran is experiencing a near-total internet blackout, with national connectivity levels down to about 4% of normal.

An almost complete internet shutdown has been recorded in Iran, according to monitoring organization NetBlocks.

What is known about the internet shutdown in Iran?

NetBlocks noted that the incident occurred against the backdrop of US and Israeli combat operations and is consistent with measures that the Iranian authorities used during last year's war with Israel.

Confirmed: Network data shows that Iran is currently experiencing a near-total internet blackout, with national connectivity levels at about 4% of normal,
– the organization said in a statement.

Iranian politician Reza Pahlavi has urged the country's population to monitor their social media, where he will announce when it will be necessary to take to the streets to “take back their country.”

Earlier, for most of January, Iranians also had serious problems accessing the internet when authorities restricted online communication during a crackdown on anti-government protests.

What is known about previous internet shutdowns in Iran?

• In June 2025, Iran faced a large-scale internet outage amid Israeli strikes and cyberattacks, which significantly complicated access to the outside world and led to the blocking of a number of Western services, including WhatsApp and Instagram.

• Meanwhile, Iran's National Information Network continued to operate. Starlink was considered as a possible way to circumvent the restrictions, but its use is officially banned in the country.

• Such restrictions are not unprecedented for Iran. Previously, including during the 2019 protests, the authorities have already imposed a complete internet blackout.