Iran’s government has repeatedly deployed nationwide internet disruptions as a tool for managing information during protests and conflict, most recently imposing a near-total blackout from January 8 through late May 2026 that lasted 88 days amid anti-government demonstrations and the February 28 onset of hostilities with the United States and Israel. Partial restoration began in late May under President Masoud Pezeshkian, returning connectivity to roughly 40 percent of prior levels with a whitelist system, throttled speeds, and persistent blocks on major platforms and VPNs. As of September 2026, traffic remains below pre-shutdown norms, new filtering rules and surveillance measures were introduced in July, and authorities continue refining a tiered “national information network” architecture. Traders assess future total blackouts—defined by sustained sub-1 percent traffic levels—against risks of renewed unrest, diplomatic or military escalation, and the regime’s preference for controlled access over complete isolation, balanced against documented economic costs of prolonged outages.