Ministry of Communications
Iranian government ministry that controls national internet infrastructure; responsible for the 60-day blackout during the 2026 war.
Last refreshed: 28 April 2026
How has Iran maintained a 60-day internet blackout without significant international pressure to restore access?
Timeline for Ministry of Communications
Mentioned in: Beijing flips its blocking statute live
Iran Conflict 2026Mentioned in: Iran internet blackout enters 60th day
Iran Conflict 2026Mentioned in: SNSC restores 'Internet Pro' on Day 60
Iran Conflict 2026- How long has Iran's internet been shut down during the 2026 war?
- Iran's nationwide internet shutdown entered its 60th consecutive day on 28 April 2026, accumulating an estimated 1,440 cumulative hours. NetBlocks recorded connectivity at 1–4% of normal throughout the period — the longest sustained national internet restriction NetBlocks has ever logged.Source: Netblocks
- How does Iran shut down its internet?
- The Ministry of Communications controls the National Information Network (NIN), Iran's domestic intranet. International internet traffic is routed through a small number of state-controlled exchange points that can be throttled or isolated by administrative order.
- What was the longest internet shutdown before Iran in 2026?
- Iran's own 2019 shutdown was five days, previously one of the longest on record. The 2026 blackout at 60+ days is twelvefold longer. The previous global record was Myanmar's sustained blackout in Rakhine and Chin states, which lasted over a year but was regional rather than nationwide.Source: Netblocks
Background
The Ministry of Information and Communications Technology is the Iranian government body responsible for managing national telecommunications and the National Information Network, Iran's domestic intranet that can be isolated from the global internet.
Iran's nationwide internet blackout entered its 60th consecutive day on 28 April 2026, accumulating an estimated 1,440 hours of restriction — the longest sustained national blackout Netblocks has ever logged . Connectivity held at 1–4% of normal throughout every Ceasefire round and diplomatic circuit, isolating the civilian population informationally.