According to monitoring group NetBlocks, internet connectivity in Iran has dropped to around 1% of normal levels, preventing most residents from accessing basic online services, communication platforms, or navigation tools.

The disruption comes after Iran shut down much of its internet infrastructure following Israeli and US air strikes that lasted several days. Those who managed to circumvent the restrictions by using VPNs reported receiving warning messages on their phones, threatening further action if they continued to connect to the global internet.

“If you repeatedly connect to the international internet in the coming days, your line will be blocked and the necessary measures will be taken to refer your case to the judicial authorities,” the message said.

A resident in Tehran told AFP that internet speeds had become extremely slow, making normal communication almost impossible. “The internet speed is very slow. You can’t call and voice messages don’t get delivered. We can just text,” the resident said.

The blackout has severely disrupted daily life, preventing people from contacting relatives abroad, using navigation tools such as Google Maps, or accessing websites for information. Many residents have been limited to Iran’s heavily restricted local intranet.

The strikes have also targeted Iranian broadcasting infrastructure, affecting state television and radio operations.

Some residents have attempted to access the internet using illegal Starlink terminals operated by SpaceX and owned by Elon Musk, although connectivity remains unstable. “The internet situation here is abysmal. It connects and disconnects. The connection is slow so the VPNs don’t work,” a resident in the western Iranian city of Bukan said in a message sent to AFP.

Iran has previously imposed similar internet shutdowns during periods of unrest, including during the 2022 protests sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini.