Iran Arrests Hundreds Over Online Activity During Internet Shutdown
Iranian authorities arrested 466 people on Tuesday accused of online activities endangering national security, state media reported, marking one of the largest crackdowns in the country since the start of the U.S.-Israeli offensive in late February.
According to Iranian press reports, more than 1,000 individuals have been arrested over the past month on charges including filming sensitive locations, sharing anti-government content online, or “collaborating with the enemy.” The arrests, according to a police statement, followed intelligence gathering and technical surveillance in recent days, with authorities claiming those detained were linked to “hostile” networks seeking to create internal unrest.
“These individuals sought to disrupt public opinion, create fear, spread uncertainty, and transmit enemy propaganda,” the Iranian Students News Agency (IRNA) reported, citing Iranian police.
Iran completely shut down internet access on February 28, the first day of military operations. NetBlocks, an organization monitoring global internet access, indicated on Tuesday that the shutdown has now lasted 25 days – one of the longest nationwide internet shutdowns on record. Access to the global internet remains restricted to a limited number of authorized individuals. Others are intermittently connecting via VPNs or Starlink terminals, though the use and possession of such technology is illegal and carries the risk of imprisonment.
Iranians continue to have access to the local intranet for communication and online orders. The shutdown follows a surprise military offensive launched by the United States and Israel against Iran, according to reports from February 28. Italian Prime Minister-designate Matteo Salvini stated that Rome received no prior warning of the offensive, learning of it only after it had begun.
The offensive reportedly targeted key Iranian infrastructure, with some reports, originating from Israeli sources, claiming that Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, was killed. U.S. President Donald Trump indicated the possibility that these reports were accurate, stating, “We have a feeling that indeed that’s what happened.” The Iranian Foreign Ministry disputed this claim, asserting that Ayatollah Khamenei was unharmed.
In a separate development on March 12, Iranian officials stated the country was prepared to “destroy the American and world economy” and began deploying naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, further escalating tensions. Trump subsequently threatened Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz. In response, the Iranian military warned it would target U.S. And Israeli energy, IT, and desalination infrastructure if Iran’s fuel facilities were attacked.
The ongoing internet shutdown and subsequent arrests appear to be part of a broader effort by Iranian authorities to suppress dissent and control the narrative surrounding the conflict. As of Tuesday, no statement has been issued regarding a potential timeline for restoring full internet access.