Iran cut off from the world: a record-breaking internet outage

The internet blackout in Iran has reached an unprecedented level, becoming the longest nationwide outage ever recorded, according to the monitoring organization NetBlocks. This situation, which has persisted for several weeks, comes amid a backdrop of military conflict and high internal tensions.

According to the latest data, the country has been plunged into a near-total blackout since the end of February, with connectivity falling to approximately 1% of its usual level. As of April 5, the outage had lasted for more than 864 hours, or 37 consecutive days—a world record for an interruption of this magnitude.

This massive outage has serious consequences for the population. It prevents residents from communicating with their loved ones, accessing real-time information, and documenting incidents related to the ongoing conflict. Human rights organizations are also raising concerns about the increased risks to civilians deprived of essential means of communication.

The blackout is part of a broader strategy by Iranian authorities, who are already accused of using these shutdowns to control information, particularly during demonstrations and military operations. Since the beginning of 2026, the country has experienced several major network outages, making this period one of the most marked by digital censorship.

The current blackout was exacerbated by US and Israeli airstrikes in late February, which caused a sharp drop in internet traffic across the country. Since then, the situation has remained virtually unchanged, with near-total digital isolation and extremely limited external communication.

This situation is causing serious international concern, both for its humanitarian implications and its consequences for freedom of expression. It also illustrates the growing extent to which internet shutdowns are used as a tool of political control in crisis situations.