Iran’s Internet Showdown: Navigating the Tug-of-War Between Control and Connectivity

A new report by the Tehran E-Commerce Association reveals the significant failure of censorship policies and the increasing reliance on unsafe workarounds among Iranian internet users. This study serves as a crucial insight into the challenges faced by the digital landscape in Iran, largely influenced by stringent regulations and government restrictions.

Published on August 3, 2025, the report demonstrates the alarming state of internet access in Iran. It highlights the widening digital divide and the economic repercussions of censorship. Furthermore, it confirms the long-held beliefs of many citizens and experts: the Iranian regime’s internet restrictions have largely proven ineffective.

Utilizing technical data, expert analyses, and a survey from ISPA (Iranian Students Polling Agency), the report positions Iran at a dismal 97th place among the 100 largest economies in terms of internet quality. The findings reveal the following scores:

• Speed Issues: 84/100
• Instability: 92/100
• Restrictions: 99/100

These scores indicate that the internet available to ordinary Iranians is not only slow and unstable but also heavily censored.

Massive Turn to VPNs Signals Policy Failure

One of the most striking findings in the report is the substantial increase in the use of VPNs and circumvention tools. Currently, over 86% of all internet users—and nearly 94% of those under the age of 30—depend on VPNs to access blocked content. Prior to the 2022 wave of extensive censorship, fewer than 40% of users required such tools. This shift underscores a central paradox: the more the regime attempts to restrict access, the more users resort to insecure and potentially hazardous alternatives.

Instagram remains the most favored social media platform among Iranians, serving as a crucial resource for small and home-based businesses. The report cautions that ongoing restrictions or a complete ban on Instagram could jeopardize the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of families.

Critical Technologies Obstructed

The ramifications extend beyond social media platforms. Essential internet protocols such as HTTP/3 and IPv6—vital for modern, fast, and secure web performance—have been intentionally disrupted. Consequently, the round-trip time (RTT) for data transmission has climbed to 295 milliseconds, a figure typically associated with countries experiencing war or severe infrastructure collapse.

This deteriorated connectivity impacts nearly every aspect of life in Iran, affecting:

• Video calls
• Remote education
• Online banking
• Gaming

Startups and tech companies report significant service instability due to constant outages, further exacerbating the brain drain of skilled professionals.

Rise of Starlink and the Limits of Control

In a notable shift, the report underscores a growing interest in Starlink satellite internet. During the recent 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel, the use of Starlink surged among Iranians seeking reliable internet access. Despite facing technical and financial hurdles, many users opted for this alternative to maintain their connections with the outside world, highlighting the significant disconnect between official policies and public demand.

Iran Access Policy and the Global Disconnect

Another contentious policy, termed “Iran Access,” has barred users outside Iran from accessing domestic websites. Approximately 80% of government and banking sites are now unreachable from abroad. While authorities justify this move as a cybersecurity measure aimed at protecting national systems, the Tehran E-Commerce Association points out that major cyberattacks on Iran’s financial infrastructure have originated from within the country. This renders the policy not only ineffective but counterproductive.

This artificial digital isolation, as warned by the report, is pushing Iran further into global digital marginalization, crippling innovation and closing off opportunities for collaboration.

Tech Industry Pushback and Demands for Reform

In light of the deteriorating situation, over 100 Iranian tech companies have united in a joint statement demanding immediate reform of internet policies. Their primary demands include:

1. Unblocking social media platforms and educational websites
2. Increasing international bandwidth
3. Lifting restrictions on modern internet protocols

The companies argue that the current approach is not only ineffective in securing the internet but actively harms the economy by fostering black markets for VPNs, spreading malware, and driving currency outflows worth billions of tomans.

Censorship as a Political Tool

The report candidly highlights the political motivations behind internet repression. Following the nationwide protests of 2022 and during the recent conflict with Israel, regime authorities employed large-scale internet shutdowns as a means of social control. These actions disrupted access to information and silenced journalists and civil society actors, forcing millions to rely on unsafe tools just to stay informed.

This ongoing struggle between state censorship and user resistance has intensified public distrust and heightened security costs—without achieving its intended goals.

A Vicious Cycle

The Internet and Infrastructure Commission of the association concludes that the regime is ensnared in a self-defeating cycle: extensive filtering results in circumvention, which incites even more aggressive policies—such as “tiered internet”—that fail to tackle the underlying issues. The outcome is a digitally isolated, economically weakened, and socially frustrated society.

As the digital curtain tightens, the question remains: How long can this regime suppress connectivity without collapsing under the weight of its own contradictions?