World

Iran in 'digital darkness' as internet blockade remains

By AAP Newswire

Mar 29, 2026

Iranian flag in Tehran — Since Israeli and US attacks started on Iran, most residents have had limited online access. -EPA

Four weeks after an internet outage began in Iran, the bulk of the population remains cut off from non-state news sources and with little contact with the rest of the world.

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Netblocks, an organisation specialising in internet blockades, said on Saturday that exactly one month ago, Iran was plunged into "digital darkness" when the authorities "cut off access to the global internet".

The shutdown remains in effect, "violating Iranians' right to communicate and stay informed," Netblocks wrote on X.

The internet blockade is the longest uninterrupted blackout in Iran's history.

Since the initial Israeli and US attacks on the country on February 28, most Iranians have only had access to a restricted internal intranet containing only state-approved content.

In contrast, a small section of the military and the ruling authorities continue to use the internet without restrictions.

Iranian media outlets are also publishing their news on Telegram and X, which are blocked inside the country.

Online trade has virtually collapsed because of the severed communications, with hundreds of thousands of businesses affected.

Many traders rely on social media platforms such as Instagram to promote their products and services.