Simay Azadi – Iran internet blackout passed its 81st day, exceeding 1,920 hours of restricted access, according to monitoring group NetBlocks. NetBlocks warned that Tehran is not only maintaining domestic internet controls but is also seeking broader influence over regional communications infrastructure.
The prolonged blackout comes as officials and state-linked media increasingly acknowledge public dissatisfaction over filtering policies, unequal internet access, and growing economic losses.
On May 17, 2026, the state-linked outlet Khabar Online quoted the regime’s MP Mohammad-Reza Pourdehghan criticizing a recent order issued by the regime’s President Masoud Pezeshkian to his Vice President Mohammad-Reza Aref regarding cyberspace policy.
Pourdehghan described the move as largely symbolic, stating:
“The order issued for Aref is more decorative or psychological in nature… People are tired of these rulings and attractive statements by government spokespeople. They want real action.”
He also referred to growing anger over unequal internet access and alleged preferential treatment under programs sometimes described as “pro internet” or “business internet.” He said:
“People are dissatisfied with the discrimination created under strange names such as ‘pro internet’ or ‘business internet,’ and with the unusual amounts of money being taken from them.”
The comments appeared to reference widespread complaints over so-called “tiered internet,” in which faster or less restricted access is reportedly available to selected institutions or groups while broader restrictions remain in place.
On May 17, 2026, former regime official Mohammad-Ali Abtahi warned that the government could increasingly be held accountable for prolonged filtering policies. According to Khabar Online, Abtahi said:
“If this decision is merely symbolic, it could become a major mistake for the government.”
State-linked reporting has also acknowledged growing economic consequences. On May 17, another report by Khabar Online stated that criticism over internet disruptions has intensified and that many people dependent on online businesses have effectively lost their livelihoods.
Meanwhile, efforts by users to bypass restrictions have reportedly contributed to a growing black market for foreign SIM cards, particularly Iraqi SIM cards in western Iran.
According to a report published by ILNA on May 17, 2026, a member of the regime parliament’s security commission called on intelligence agencies to intervene, warning:
“If Iraqi SIM cards are being bought and sold in the country, this is certainly not good from an intelligence and security standpoint.”
The latest admissions by officials come months after authorities imposed severe internet restrictions during the January 2026 uprising, when activists said communication blackouts limited information flows amid widespread arrests and a deadly crackdown.
Since then, internet shutdowns have increasingly coincided with mass arrests, executions, expanded surveillance measures, and tighter control over online platforms, while authorities continue promoting domestic alternatives under the country’s “National Information Network.”
Although officials often cite war conditions or security concerns as justification, recent statements from regime lawmakers and state-linked outlets increasingly point to their fear of the consequences of these actions, both socially and economically.