Iran's Internal Communication Networks and Information Control During Wartime Conflict

Summary

During an ongoing war, Iran has imposed a sweeping internet blackout lasting 55 consecutive days, reducing connectivity to just two percent of normal levels and severely disrupting the country's digital economy. The shutdown, which began following widespread protests in early January, affected major cities including Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz, and even disconnected Iran's own National Information Network from functioning internally. The economic toll has been devastating, with Iranian officials acknowledging daily losses ranging from $30-40 million in direct costs, climbing to $70-80 million per day when indirect economic impacts are factored in. The financial sector suffered dramatically, with online sales plummeting by 80 percent, the Tehran Stock Exchange losing over $1.67 billion in just four days, and the total number of financial transactions dropping by 185 million in January 2026 alone. As citizens attempted to circumvent the blackout using satellite internet services like Starlink, Iranian authorities expanded their suppression efforts to include jamming satellite connections and physically confiscating satellite dishes.