Digital rights activists have warned that Iran’s government is advancing plans to permanently disconnect the country from the global internet. According to a report by the censorship-monitoring group Filterwatch, only a small, government-approved group will be allowed limited access to international networks, while the general public will be restricted to a domestic “national internet” isolated from the global web. Filterwatch chief Amir Rashidi described the system as a state-controlled parallel network containing only government-approved search engines, messaging apps, and streaming services.

Activists allege that Chinese technology and Huawei equipment are being used to build this surveillance and censorship infrastructure, enabling authorities to monitor and block internet traffic. Since January 8, Iran has faced one of its longest internet blackouts, lasting over 200 hours, surpassing Egypt’s 2011 shutdown. Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani suggested the restrictions could continue until March 20, coinciding with the Nowruz holiday.

Analysts cited by The Guardian said the move reflects a decade-and-a-half of planning since the 2009 protests, when Iran began developing its domestic internet system. A 2025 law now criminalizes possession of Starlink terminals, with penalties up to death, as authorities use Russian and Chinese jammers to block satellite signals.