For over ten days, Iran has been experiencing a severe internet blackout, with Cloudflare Radar data indicating that HTTP traffic levels remain below 1% of their usual volume. This extensive shutdown has effectively disconnected about 90 million Iranians from accessing the global internet.
Origins of the Nationwide Blackout
The drastic reduction in internet connectivity commenced around 07:00 UTC on February 28, 2026, aligning with military actions by the United States and Israel on Iranian soil. Cloudflare Radar noted a precipitous 98% drop in internet activity, with HTTP requests plummeting throughout all significant regions in Iran.
According to NetBlocks, an independent internet monitoring organization, this blackout is a deliberate action by the government, not caused by cyberattacks or physical infrastructure issues. Traffic data illustrates a synchronized collapse across all primary metrics, including total bytes, HTTP bytes, and HTTP requests, with no signs of improvement since the initial shutdown.
Regional and Network Implications
The internet outage is nearly comprehensive across Iran. Tehran, which accounts for 65% of the country’s internet traffic, along with Fars, Isfahan, Razavi Khorasan, and Alborz Province, have all seen traffic levels drop to nearly zero since March 1. This points to a coordinated effort rather than isolated interruptions.
On a network level, the biggest Iranian ISPs have been significantly affected. The Mobile Communication Company of Iran (MCCI), IranCell, and Telecommunication Company of Iran (TCI), which collectively managed a large share of the country’s internet traffic, went offline simultaneously, suggesting intervention at the national infrastructure level.
Economic and Human Rights Concerns
As of March 10, the blackout has lasted over 240 hours, making it one of the most extensive government-imposed internet shutdowns globally and the second longest in Iran’s history, following a similar event in January 2026. The Iranian government acknowledges an economic loss of $35.7 million per day due to the shutdown, with online sales plummeting by up to 80%.
Human Rights Watch has criticized the blackout as an infringement on basic rights and expressed concerns about the increased risks to civilians who are unable to access crucial information. Although state media reports that a few pre-approved websites on Iran’s National Information Network remain accessible, the impact on ordinary citizens and the economy is profound.
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