The Iranian government has officially confirmed that the recent near-total national internet blackout was a deliberate measure intended to defend the country against cyberattacks linked to the ongoing conflict with Israel. The shutdown, which left millions of citizens disconnected, severely restricted access to information and severed communication channels for those inside and outside the country.
Government Justifies Extreme Connectivity Restrictions
Fatemeh Mohajerani, spokesperson for the Iranian government, stated that the decision was a security imperative. According to local reports, officials cited the need to protect critical infrastructure, including the banking system, from foreign digital incursions. Mohajerani claimed that internet connectivity was being exploited to control enemy drones and facilitate the exchange of sensitive information, necessitating the move to a restricted national network.
The world must see the truth!
The Israeli regime is not only committing aggression against Iran—it is waging a war on truth and human conscience.
Israel has banned foreign media from covering missile strikes, subject to #IDF censorship.
Why? To hide its crimes: While #Iran…
— Foreign Ministry, Islamic Republic of Iran 🇮🇷 (@IRIMFA_EN) June 20, 2025
The Role of ‘Predatory Sparrow’
The government’s stance follows high-profile hacks targeting Bank Sepah and the cryptocurrency exchange Nobitex. Responsibility for these incidents was claimed by “Predatory Sparrow” (Gonjeshke Darande), a group of pro-Israel hacktivists. This entity has a documented history of successfully disrupting vital Iranian services, including gas stations and industrial steel plants, as previously reported by international media.
Impact on Civilians and Communication
For the average citizen, the blackout has created a dangerous information vacuum. Amir Rashidi, director of cybersecurity and digital rights at the Miaan Group, highlighted the human toll of the shutdown. With phone lines and internet access severed, many families remain completely unreachable while living in areas threatened by potential bombardment.
“I haven’t heard from my family in two days,” Rashidi noted, explaining that calls from abroad are met with automated error messages rather than ringing, indicating a systemic failure of telecommunications infrastructure.
Circumventing the Blackout
While the state-imposed restrictions are extensive, a limited number of users have managed to maintain connectivity. Nariman Gharib, a U.K.-based cyber-espionage investigator, observed that only those with advanced technical knowledge, such as the use of virtual private servers (VPS) or specific ADSL configurations, can bypass the firewall.
“There aren’t that many people able to get online,” Gharib explained. “While tech-savvy individuals are finding ways to circumvent the wall, the vast majority of the population remains isolated due to the near-total nature of this shutdown.”