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Iran Shuts Global Internet, Arrests Starlink Users, Businesses Falter

4/25/2026

48 11 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Iran has cut off most global internet access, moving education to state television and a restricted national intranet.
Law enforcement in Yazd province arrested six people for using Starlink equipment and 466 others for online activity deemed harmful to national security in late March.
Small businesses that relied on WhatsApp and Instagram warn up to 80% may face bankruptcy because they cannot operate without internet connectivity.

History

Historical Context

During the Egyptian Revolution, President Hosni Mubarak ordered the four national ISPs to shut down the internet on 27 January 2011, cutting traffic within two hours and costing the economy about $90 million, while only 24 % of Egyptians were online. Iran later used the same kill-switch tactic in the 2019-2020 protests, a precedent for its 2024 bandwidth curtailment that now threatens merchants.

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Story summary

Iran has cut off most global internet access, moving education to state television and a restricted national intranet.
Law enforcement in Yazd province arrested six people for using Starlink equipment and 466 others for online activity deemed harmful to national security in late March.
Small businesses that relied on WhatsApp and Instagram warn up to 80% may face bankruptcy because they cannot operate without internet connectivity.

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