Iran Faces Near-Total Internet Blackout Amid Escalating Conflict

On February 28, 2026, Iran experienced a near-total internet blackout, coinciding with a series of U.S. and Israel-led airstrikes that reportedly killed Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei and other top officials. This blackout, which has persisted for over 48 hours, follows a brief period of restored internet access after previous nationwide restrictions were lifted. Internet monitoring organizations, including Cloudflare Radar and NetBlocks, reported a dramatic drop in internet traffic across major cities such as Tehran, Fars, Isfahan, Alborz, and Razavi Khorasan. Doug Madory, Director of Internet Analysis at Kentik, noted that several networks had completely ceased exchanging traffic, with only a minimal amount of connectivity remaining.

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The military actions and subsequent internet disruptions are rooted in failed negotiations between Tehran and Washington, which followed weeks of mass protests in Iran. These protests had already led to significant casualties and the longest internet shutdown in the country’s history. The airstrikes, which began early on February 28, were accompanied by cyberattacks targeting Iranian infrastructure, including a popular prayer app that was hacked to send anti-government messages to users.

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The blackout has severely limited communication within Iran, as traditional VPNs, commonly used to bypass censorship, require internet access to function. While satellite internet options like Starlink exist, their availability is limited among the Iranian populace. The ongoing disruptions have raised concerns about the potential for increased civil unrest and government crackdowns, as authorities have historically restricted internet access during periods of political turmoil.

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The conflict's ramifications extend beyond Iran's borders, with reports of Iranian missile strikes impacting infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates, including an Amazon data center. This escalation threatens to disrupt critical e-commerce routes and air and sea traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage for global trade. The situation remains fluid, with the potential for further military actions and retaliatory measures from Iran.

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In response to the airstrikes and the blackout, various international observers have expressed concern over the implications for regional stability. The U.S. and Israel have not officially commented on the specific outcomes of the airstrikes but have been linked to ongoing cyber operations aimed at destabilizing the Iranian regime.

Critics of the U.S. and Israeli actions argue that the military strikes and cyberattacks exacerbate tensions in the region and could lead to a broader conflict. Human rights advocates have condemned the internet blackout as a violation of free expression and a tactic to suppress dissent within Iran.

While reports confirm the significant impact of the airstrikes and the internet blackout, discrepancies exist regarding the exact number of casualties and the extent of the damage caused by the strikes. Additionally, the identity of the hackers behind the compromised app notifications remains unclear, leaving gaps in understanding the full scope of the cyber operations.

• “there is a tiny amount of traffic still getting passed.” — Doug Madory, Director of Internet Analysis at Kentik

• “pay for their cruel and merciless actions against the innocent people of Iran,” — Notification from hacked BadeSaba prayer app

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• “objects that struck the data center, creating sparks and fire.” — Amazon spokesperson regarding the UAE data center outage.

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