At a Glance
- 92 million Iranians have been offline for more than 170 hours
- The blackout began on January 8 after anti-government protests spread nationwide
- Only Sudan’s 35-day outage in 2021 and Mauritania’s 22-day outage in 2024 have lasted longer
- Why it matters: The shutdown blocks global visibility into a deadly crackdown that human-rights monitors say has already killed at least 2,000 people
Iran has severed internet and phone access for its entire population of 92 million since January 8, creating one of the longest nationwide internet shutdowns ever recorded.
The blackout began after protests that started late last year escalated across hundreds of cities. Authorities responded with force; one U.S.-based human-rights group estimates security forces have killed at least 2,000 demonstrators.
Record-Setting Outage
Iranians have now endured more than 170 consecutive hours offline, surpassing the country’s previous records of 163 hours in 2019 and 160 hours in 2025, according to Isik Mater, director of research at NetBlocks, a web-monitoring organization that tracks global connectivity disruptions.
Mater ranks the current shutdown as the third-longest on record:
| Rank | Country | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sudan (2021) | ~35 days |
| 2 | Mauritania (2024) | 22 days |
| 3 | Iran (current) | 7+ days and continuing |
“Iran’s shutdowns remain among the most comprehensive and tightly enforced nationwide blackouts we’ve observed, particularly in terms of population affected,” Mater told News Of Philadelphia.
Zach Rosson, a researcher at the digital-rights nonprofit Access Now, said the event is on pace to enter the top-ten list of longest outages his group has documented.
Sudden Cutoff, Partial Restorations
The blackout struck without warning on January 8, even disconnecting government institutions such as the foreign ministry. Over the following days authorities selectively restored service for:
- Some government departments
- Banking networks
- Payment processors at fuel stations
Yet the vast majority of citizens remain cut off, and the government has a documented history of using shutdowns to hinder outside monitoring during periods of unrest.
Smuggled Starlink Terminals Offer Rare Lifeline
A small but unknown number of Iranians have accessed the outside world through smuggled Starlink satellite terminals. In 2022 the Biden administration eased U.S. sanctions to let American tech firms provide free connectivity inside Iran, clearing the way for Starlink service.
Authorities have since:
- Criminalized ownership of Starlink hardware
- Jammed entire neighborhoods to block signals
- Confiscated discovered devices
International Response
President Donald Trump this week threatened possible military action if Iranian forces continue lethal violence against protesters, even as the Pentagon reduced troop levels at a base in neighboring Qatar and redirected a naval strike group toward the Middle East.
On Wednesday Trump said he had received reports that “the killing has stopped and the executions won’t take place,” though he added, “who knows?”
The United Kingdom closed its embassy in Tehran and evacuated staff, while Iran briefly closed its airspace on Wednesday.
Global Context
Internet-shutdown lengths vary by measurement criteria, but the current Iranian blackout already exceeds most national blackouts in duration and scale. With protests continuing and diplomatic pressure rising, the shutdown’s ultimate length-and the toll on civilians-remains uncertain.
Key Takeaways
- The blackout affects 92 million people, making it one of the most sweeping in history
- Only two documented outages, in Sudan and Mauritania, have lasted longer
- Authorities have partially restored service for banks and fuel payments, but most citizens remain offline
- Smuggled Starlink units provide limited access despite government countermeasures
