According to the latest report by NetBlocks, the internet status in Iran remains in a state of shutdown. International internet access continues to be completely cut off across the country with no observed increase in connectivity. This persistent blackout contradicts earlier promises by officials, who had announced that the internet would be reconnected by Tuesday, January 20, 2026 (30 Dey 1404). As of now, no change has occurred in the status of international connectivity.
Continued Widespread Internet Outage in Iran: Crossing the 280-Hour Mark and the Implementation of “Whitelist” Policy
Source: ZoomTech – Citing internet analysis sources, the latest network updates indicate a continued crisis in access to the free flow of information in Iran. Now that the clock has ticked past 280 hours of continuous outage, the nation remains in a vast digital blackout, and the prospect of reconnection for citizens is still shrouded in ambiguity.
Disconnection of 90 Million Users and Mounting Concerns
Based on published data, a nation with a population of over 90 million remains completely isolated from the global village for yet another day. This long-term disconnection is not merely a technical challenge; it has brought about extensive human and social consequences.
Currently, millions of friends and family members inside and outside Iran’s borders are deprived of even the simplest forms of communication. The inability to check on the status of loved ones and the severance of standard communication channels has created a wave of anxiety and concern among families, which intensifies with every passing hour.
The Emergence of the “Whitelist” Strategy in Network Traffic
While public access to the international internet remains blocked, detailed analyses of data traffic on specific platforms reveal new realities. Technical evidence suggests that a nascent strategy known as “Whitelisting” is being implemented.
It appears that relevant authorities are managing data flow by selectively keeping traffic open for certain approved domestic services or specific platforms, while access to the vast majority of global websites and services remains obstructed.
Consequences of Sustained Blockade of Communication Channels
The continuation of this trend, now crossing the threshold of the 11th day of outages, highlights the complexity of the current situation. In conditions where data traffic is directed solely toward predetermined paths, ordinary users have practically no option to bypass restrictions or access vital services and global messengers.
Although this Whitelist strategy does not reduce overall network traffic to zero, it fundamentally alters the nature of the internet into a limited and controlled network where user choice is severely restricted.
