TEHRAN, IRAN March 2, 2026 – Iran’s nationwide internet outage has now exceeded 48 hours, leaving its population of approximately 90 million people largely cut off from global communication as US and Israeli military strikes on the country continue, according to independent internet watchdog NetBlocks.
The disruption was highlighted Monday by Al Jazeera English, which shared a detailed graphic from NetBlocks showing network connectivity across Iran collapsing sharply to near-zero levels.
The graphic, titled “Internet blackout in Iran passes 48-hour mark: Monitor,” includes a statement from NetBlocks:
“#Iran’s internet blackout has now surpassed 48 hours, leaving its population of 90 million out of touch as war spreads.”
A line chart in the graphic illustrates stable connectivity (around 90–100%) from February 24 to late February 28, followed by an abrupt “SHUTDOWN” drop to roughly 1% — a level that has persisted into March 2.
NetBlocks noted that internet shutdowns are a “go-to tactic” for the Iranian regime during crises. A similar blackout in January 2026 lasted several weeks and was accused of concealing serious human rights violations.
The current outage began shortly after coordinated US-Israeli strikes commenced on February 28, with connectivity falling to as low as 4% within hours and later stabilizing at around 1%. Experts describe the blackout as a deliberate state-imposed measure consistent with Iran’s wartime playbook, seen previously during the 2025 12-day conflict with Israel.
With landlines, mobile networks, and internet services severely restricted, the flow of real-time information from inside Iran has been dramatically curtailed. This has raised concerns over transparency, accountability, and the ability of international observers and humanitarian agencies to assess the full impact of the ongoing military operations.
Al Jazeera is providing continuous live coverage of the US-Israeli attacks on Iran, including further updates on the blackout and its humanitarian implications.
This is a developing story. Life News Agency will continue monitoring the situation as more details emerge.
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