Iranian authorities imposed one of the longest recorded nationwide internet shutdowns in early 2026, beginning with protests on January 8 and intensifying after U.S.-Israeli strikes on February 28, with connectivity dropping below 1-5% of normal levels for roughly 88 days until partial restoration in late May under President Masoud Pezeshkian. The government relied on BGP route withdrawals, throttling, and the National Information Network to enforce controls, while shifting toward tiered access that privileges select users and restricts platforms for most. Recent September 2026 reporting indicates connectivity has recovered modestly but remains slow with widespread blocks and ineffective VPNs, reflecting a preference for sustained filtering over repeated total outages. Trader assessments of future blackouts hinge on protest resurgence, escalation risks in regional tensions, and the economic or political costs of further isolation versus maintaining the current restricted framework.