Iran Issues Warnings To VPN Users As Internet Blackout Persists

Iranian authorities have reportedly issued warnings to citizens attempting to bypass a nationwide internet shutdown, as the country remains largely cut off from global communications.

Witnesses told AFP that individuals who managed to connect to the internet using virtual private networks (VPNs) received warning messages from authorities. The messages cautioned users against repeatedly accessing the international internet.

According to the monitoring group NetBlocks, internet connectivity in Iran had dropped to about one percent of normal levels, leaving most residents unable to access basic information, navigation services, or communication applications.

The warning message sent to some users stated, “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.”

A resident of Tehran, who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said the situation had made communication extremely difficult.

“The internet speed is very slow. You can’t call and voice messages don’t get delivered. We can just text,” the resident said.

Iran imposed the internet restrictions on Saturday following air strikes carried out by Israel and the United States, which have continued for six consecutive days.

The shutdown has made it nearly impossible to place calls from abroad to Iranian mobile phones or landlines, complicating efforts by journalists to report on the conflict. Reporting from within the country is already tightly controlled by authorities.

Residents within Iran are also facing major disruptions to daily life, as services such as checking in on relatives, using navigation tools like Google Maps, or accessing websites for information have become largely inaccessible.

Currently, only a limited domestic intranet remains operational