Iran plans permanent break from global internet, say activists

January 17, 2026

TL;DR

Iran is reportedly planning to permanently disconnect from the global internet.
Access to the global internet will become a 'governmental privilege' for individuals vetted by the regime.
A national internet, isolated from the outside world, is already operational and is the only option for most Iranians.
This plan is seen as a permanent shift, with unrestricted access not expected to return after 2026.
The move is a culmination of a 16-year effort by the Iranian regime to control internet access.
Technology exported by China may be enabling Iran's sophisticated filtering and whitelisting capabilities.
Iran has been developing its national internet infrastructure since at least 2009.
The current internet shutdown began on January 8th, following escalating anti-regime protests.

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