Tehran, March 29. Iran has reached its 30th consecutive day of a near-total internet blackout, resulting in the country being almost entirely disconnected from the global network. Data provided by the internet monitoring organization NetBlocks indicates that the shutdown has now lasted for 696 hours, with connectivity levels dropping to just one percent of the usual capacity. This massive disruption has left the majority of the population without digital access, effectively isolating the nation from the rest of the world.
The current situation follows a series of joint military strikes launched by the United States and Israel on February 28, 2026. As per agency report, this event marks the longest digital shutdown in Iran's history, leaving approximately 90 million citizens without a way to communicate with the international community during a significant national crisis. The blackout was initiated alongside coordinated military operations that targeted the country's nuclear and missile infrastructure.
During the period of these military engagements, Iranian officials confirmed the passing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The ongoing connectivity issues have restricted users to only a few whitelisted services and the National Information Network, while most international websites and platforms remain offline. There are also indications that military-grade jamming techniques are being employed to interfere with satellite signals, including those from the Starlink network, to prevent external communication.
The National Information Network, also known as the Halal Internet, serves as a domestic intranet designed to keep essential internal services like banking and government websites running even when the international internet is disabled. This system was previously used to transition the public to a controlled environment during protests earlier in 2026. By utilizing this domestic network while blocking global access, the authorities have maintained a state of digital isolation for the country's residents.
