Two-minute read<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n As the clerical regime in Iran faces mounting internal dissent and geopolitical pressure, the ruling establishment is intensifying its control over digital infrastructure and online discourse\u2014moves analysts increasingly view as components of a larger survival strategy rather than purely national security measures.<\/p>\n The regime’s renewed push for a so-called “national internet”<\/a> is publicly framed as a defense mechanism against foreign cyberattacks and wartime vulnerabilities. Officials claim that isolating Iran\u2019s internet infrastructure from the global network would reduce external threats and ensure continuity of essential services during crises. However, security experts challenge this narrative, citing continued cyberattacks even after internal networks were cut off during recent conflicts. High-profile hacks targeting Iran’s steel industry, nuclear facilities, and even the notorious Evin prison suggest that disconnecting from the global internet does not guarantee immunity.<\/p>\n At the heart of this policy is the promotion of state-endorsed \u201csanctions-bypass tools\u201d as replacements for traditional VPNs. The clerical dictatorship insists VPNs create security vulnerabilities<\/a>, yet critics argue it is the state-imposed censorship and monopoly over communication that force users into unsafe practices. The irony is evident: while the regime blames VPNs for compromising security, it drives users to rely on obscure, government-approved apps often accused of surveillance and data exploitation.<\/p>\n #Iran<\/a> Teeters Toward Full Internet Blackout Amid Rising Tensionshttps:\/\/t.co\/Zaesm5Hu0Q<\/a><\/p>\n — NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) June 18, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n
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