France, May 7 -- That control has now reached an unprecedented level. The current shutdown has lasted more than 60 days, making it the longest internet cut since Libya lost access for nearly six months during the Arab Spring.

It follows years of increasing control by the authorities after repeated unrest. Iran clamped down on communications during the Green Movement in 2009, the fuel price protests in 2019 and the demonstrations after the death of Mahsa Amini in custody in 2022.

This repression increased again after American strikes in June 2025, protests at the end of that year and a deadly crackdown in early 2026.

Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi told news channel Al Jazeera in January that the shutdown was a response to "terrorist ope...