Iranian authorities announce the arrest of 466 people accused of seeking to destabilize the country through their online activity, state media reported, as the war with the US and Israel ground on.
“These individuals sought to sow confusion in public opinion, create fear and anxiety in society, promote insecurity and spread propaganda in favor of the enemy” online, state news agency IRNA says, citing Iranian police.
The news agency does not specify the exact nature of the online activity nor the dates of the arrests.
Iranian authorities have completely cut off the internet since war erupted on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes on the country.
Internet monitor Netblocks writes on X that “Iran’s internet blackout has entered its 25th day after 576 hours.”
For nearly a month, only a handful of authorized people have had access to the worldwide internet in Iran. Others have sought to overcome the blackout by connecting sporadically via VPNs or Starlink — a jailable offense in Iran.
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Tuesday, March 24, 2026
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