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Iran's nationwide internet shutdown has entered its second day, cutting off over 90% of the population from global connectivity as the government maintains restrictions amid escalating conflict with Israel.
The blackout, which began Tuesday around 5:30 p.m. local time, is now the most severe internet disruption since the November 2019 protests.
The prolonged shutdown has created profound anguish for Iranians living outside the country who cannot contact relatives during the ongoing hostilities. "Since yesterday morning, I haven't heard from my mom. The last message I got from her was at 11am," two Iranian nationals told Türkiye Today, requesting anonymity due to safety concerns.
The communication blackout has blocked all digital channels, leaving diaspora families completely isolated. "Those of us living outside Iran, with our families still inside, have been completely unable to reach them — not through messaging apps, not with calling cards, not even via direct SIM lines," Iranian abroad said.
As the 24-hour mark passed, families described the psychological toll of separation during wartime. "This is an unbearable kind of fear. It crawls under your skin and sits there. You refresh your phone a hundred times. You stare at two gray check marks," they explained.
The internet restrictions have prevented Iranian civilians from receiving crucial safety information as hostilities continue with Israel. Families abroad described watching developments unfold while unable to warn relatives of potential dangers.
"We're watching a war unfold from afar, hearing alerts from Israel warning that certain areas will be bombed — and we can't even tell our loved ones to leave," the Iranian told Türkiye Today. The blackout means any evacuation warnings that nations might issue before airstrikes cannot reach the Iranian public, creating additional risks for civilians.
Iran's government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said the country restricted internet access in response to what it described as Israeli cyberattacks. However, internet monitoring companies Kentik and Netblocks indicated the connectivity drop resulted from government action rather than infrastructure damage from strikes.
The government has historically imposed internet blackouts during periods of unrest, most recently implementing a six-day shutdown during 2019 protests that reportedly resulted in over 100 civilian deaths. Iran's National Information Network, a government-controlled domestic system isolated from global connectivity, remains largely accessible to users inside the country.
As the shutdown extends beyond 24 hours, Iranian diaspora communities have expressed frustration with the global response to their isolation. "The people of Iran — innocent, ordinary people — are being crushed from both sides: by a violent regime from within, and by the threat of war from outside," the source said.
The Iranian emphasized the lasting impact of the current crisis: "We are devastated. We are angry. And we will never forget the silence." The conflict escalated following Israeli strikes on Iran last week that Tehran says killed at least 224 people, while Israel reports Iranian retaliatory attacks have killed at least 24.
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