Iran has been largely cut off from the global internet in what observers describe as a nationwide blackout, following escalating military tensions with Israel.
The London-based cybersecurity watchdog, NetBlocks, confirmed on Thursday that the Islamic Republic has been offline for over 12 hours. The group cited the Iranian authorities’ decision to impose a countrywide internet shutdown, reportedly over fears that Israel was “misusing” the network for military purposes.
“Metrics show Iran has now been offline for over 12 hours as authorities impose a nation-scale internet shutdown, citing Israel’s alleged ‘misuse’ of the network for military purposes,” NetBlocks posted on X.
The blackout has severely restricted Iranians’ access to information at a time when reliable communication is crucial, especially given the heightened state of alert across the region.
The shutdown comes after days of missile exchanges between Iran and Israel. On Wednesday, NetBlocks reported that live network data indicated a near-total collapse of Iran’s internet connectivity nationwide, following a series of partial disruptions earlier in the week.
According to Tehran-based Mehr News Agency, Iran’s Communications Ministry confirmed the restrictions, blaming the “misuse of the national communications networks by the hostile aggressor for military purposes, jeopardising the life and property of innocent people.”
Meanwhile, the Israeli military has claimed its air force is actively striking military targets in Tehran as part of an ongoing campaign that began last Friday. These developments have raised fresh concerns about the potential for wider conflict, amid uncertainty over whether the United States might intervene to hinder Iran’s nuclear programme.
This is the sixth consecutive day of hostilities, with both sides exchanging fire in what is rapidly becoming one of the most dangerous flare-ups in the region in recent years.
