Overview
- Iran’s connectivity has hovered near 1% of normal levels since January 8, with NetBlocks and other monitors confirming a nationwide shutdown now stretching past 36 hours.
- Proton VPN reported a steep drop in sessions from Iran and said popular tools cannot help because the internet has been cut off entirely.
- Observers noted mobile networks and many international calls are down, and an Iranian digital rights expert reported localized jamming of Starlink service.
- Analysts say Iran appears to be whitelisting select services, enabling state channels and officials to stay online, as evidenced by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s posts on X during the blackout.
- Amnesty International says authorities imposed the blackout to hide grave violations in a deadly crackdown, citing at least 28 killings documented before January 4 and urging urgent diplomatic pressure as it investigates reports of intensified lethal force.