Iran’s Internet Blackout Hits 35 Days, Citizens Risk Death
Iran’s internet blackout has entered its 35th consecutive day, with connectivity reportedly flatlining at about 1% of normal levels (Netblocks). The digital blockade began after the U.S.-Israel conflict escalated, leaving the general public without reliable access to information.
Iranian citizens trying to bypass the National Information Network (NIN) reportedly face severe punishment, including possible death. Reports say some users attempt to route around the restrictions using VPNs, and Tor via its Snowflake feature. Authorities have tightened enforcement, including reportedly checking phones for installed circumvention tools.
Starlink terminals are also highlighted as a potential workaround. However, the article says Starlink use is illegal, with penalties described as death under Iranian law, while the regime employs satellite-link jamming to disrupt the service. Access to outside networks is reportedly limited to regime officials and a small set of whitelisted influencers.
Key figure cited: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who claims the blockade was established for “security” to “protect the people.”
Neutral
This is a geopolitics-and-telecom restriction story, not a crypto-native policy change or an exchange/blockchain event. Still, an extended “Iran’s internet blackout” can affect crypto trading indirectly: it can increase short-term regional risk sentiment, reduce on/off-ramp activity in affected areas, and raise operational risk for traders using cross-border services.
Historically, prolonged internet disruptions and signal jamming (e.g., during major regional conflicts) tend to create short-lived volatility in broader risk markets via uncertainty, while crypto often shows mixed reactions—sometimes seeing mild safe-haven demand, sometimes falling with overall risk-off behavior. Here, because the article signals enforcement (phone checks, punishments) and limited access (officials/whitelisted users), the likely immediate effect is higher friction rather than a direct supply/demand shock to major coins.
Longer-term, if connectivity restrictions persist, it may push more activity toward compliant channels or deepen reliance on already-restricted gateways—generally keeping crypto market impact indirect. Net traders may treat this as background risk unless it escalates into actions that directly affect exchanges, stablecoin rails, or custody infrastructure tied to the region.