Iranian authorities are facing increased pressure from human rights organizations to remove internet restrictions that have severely impacted communication, especially amid ongoing conflict with the United States. Human Rights Watch emphasized the urgency of this issue by highlighting the critical need for unrestricted access to potentially lifesaving information. Tomiwa Ilori, a senior researcher at the organization, stressed that internet shutdowns can prevent civilians from understanding where conflicts are occurring and hinder access to medical care.
In recent years, Iran has repeatedly experienced significant internet disruptions during periods of national unrest. Notably, on February 28, 2026, internet traffic plummeted by approximately 98 percent, according to Cloudflare Radar. This decline in connectivity follows a pattern seen since early January 2026, a time marked by intensifying protests and governmental crackdown.
The Iranian government’s strategy seems to focus on hindering domestic activist coordination and restricting information flow, both internally and to the outside world. Such measures not only prevent independent verification of events but also obstruct the documentation of potential human rights abuses, complicating efforts to achieve accountability and justice.
In an effort to control the narrative, the regime has reportedly implemented a discriminatory “tiered internet” system. This model grants preferential internet speed to state entities and approved individuals, thus marginalizing ordinary citizens and creating a form of digital disparity.
The restriction of internet access during crises contravenes international human rights law, which mandates that such actions must meet proportionality and necessity requirements. Nevertheless, Iranian officials often cite national security as justification, despite the general global agreement that such justifications fall short of legal standards.
This ongoing internet limitation in Iran aligns with previous instances in 2019, during protests, and the international backlash following the incident involving Mahsa Amini in 2022. Together, these actions illustrate a concerted effort to maintain control over information dissemination, severely affecting Iranian citizens’ ability to connect and respond to their environment during critical times.