Exclusive intelligence obtained by Filterwatch reveals that the Islamic Republic has abandoned its traditional model of mass internet censorship in favor of a new, far darker strategy: "Absolute Digital Isolation."
We have entered a new era where connectivity is no longer a right, but a government-granted privilege. The findings in this report detail a confidential state project—orchestrated by high-level figures including Mohammad Amin Aghamiri and Mehdi SeifAbadi—to transform the country’s internet infrastructure into a "Barracks Internet." In this sealed intranet, access to the outside world is granted only to those with security clearance via a strict "White List."
State media and government spokespersons have already signaled that this is a permanent shift, warning that unrestricted access will not return before Nowruz (March 2026) at the earliest This shift has already claimed casualties at the highest levels. Filterwatch has confirmed the punitive dismissal of Irancell’s CEO, reportedly removed for "treason" after delaying orders to cut connectivity. Simultaneously, as foreign tech partners quietly exit the country, the regime has tasked security contractors Yaftar and Doran with deploying Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) updates designed to fingerprint and flag VPN traffic specifically routing through Starlink terminals.
From the weaponization of roaming data to track Iranians abroad—a phenomenon we identify as "Exported Censorship"—to the confirmed economic collapse of major logistics firms like Tipax, this report exposes the anatomy of Iran's final transition into a communication black hole under the looming dominance of the Khatam al-Anbia base.
- New Strategy for Restriction and Enterprise Messengers
According to recent findings, regulatory bodies in the communications sector are developing and implementing a plan under which the interaction of domestic messaging apps with companies and internal teams will undergo a fundamental change. Under this confidential plan, domestic messengers will only be allowed limited operation within corporate environments if they obtain the necessary high-level security clearances. In this model, communications will be transformed into intra-team (Enterprise Messenger) interactions, and peer-to-peer (P2P) communication outside the organizational network will be blocked. This measure effectively amounts to the complete quarantine of professional communications and ensures that data transfer channels in the private sector become fully monitorable.
- Countering Satellite Internet and the “Export of Filtering”
At the infrastructure level, special focus has been placed on identifying and blocking Starlink terminals. Reports indicate that companies such as Yaftar, known for advanced computing, and the Doran Group, are heavily engaged in designing systems capable of detecting Starlink traffic.
Additionally, reports suggest that plans are underway for the large-scale collection of satellite TV dishes to prevent frequency overlaps or alternative usage. Notably, reports from users abroad indicate that domestic operators’ roaming internet—even outside the country’s borders—has been restricted to the National Information Network. This phenomenon, referred to as the “export of filtering,” demonstrates the dominance of restrictive protocols over international roaming networks.
- Departure of Foreign Partners and Changes in High-Level Management
One of the most sensitive aspects of these developments is the beginning of the departure of technical experts and personnel from telecommunications companies in the country. According to information obtained by Filterwatch, foreign partners of certain telecom companies have left Iran in recent days. This departure, taking place under security measures and without media coverage, may signal the end of international cooperation in critical infrastructure and possibly its replacement with institutions such as Khatam al-Anbia Base, or, in cases where technology allows, through limited and highly controlled cooperation with companies like Huawei.
Meanwhile, the role of behind-the-scenes figures such as Mohammad Hossein Madadi, an active player in the field of IT and network infrastructure with close ties to the management circles of Mehdi Akhavan Bahabadi and Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi, is significant. Widely recognized as technocratic security operatives, they have quietly amassed considerable wealth and influence in recent years. Their collaboration with the majority of shareholders in Iran’s major mobile operators (the Ministry of Defense in Irancell and the IRGC in Mobile Telecommunication Company of Iran) is set to elevate security governance over communications infrastructure to a new level.
- Security Decision-Making Structure
These major plans are advancing while even many deputy ministers in the relevant ministries remain unaware of their details. The central hub for decision-making in this domain is the infrastructure security unit, reportedly managed by figures such as Seifabadi and his team.
Ali Hakim-Javadi, former head of the Information Technology Organization and a prominent security figure, is one of the architects of the new governance model over cyberspace and has redefined the concept of filtering in Iran. Under this new definition, the goal is no longer merely to block content deemed inappropriate for users. Instead, all users are initially cut off from the internet, and limited access is granted only to specific groups after they obtain “security guarantees.”
This information blockade reflects the extreme securitization of the “Communication Blackhole” project, making access to real news harder for domestic users than for external observers.
At the same time, according to Filterwatch’s information, some government sources, including Fatemeh Mohajerani, the government spokesperson, confirmed that at least until Nowruz 1405 (March 2026), there should be no expectation of reopening international internet access, and even afterward, users’ access to international internet will never return to its previous form. Tabnak news agency also warned users not to expect international internet. This Tabnak report corroborates the accuracy of the information and reports received by Filterwatch.
- Immediate Consequences of These Internet Lockdowns: The Death of the E-Commerce Sector
The immediate effects of these internet shutdowns became apparent just a few days after implementation: the collapse of the e-commerce economy. Logistical data accessed by Filterwatch indicates the death of electronic commerce. For instance, in the case of Tipax (a private postal company) which previously handled around 320,000 daily shipments before the protests, the total number of shipments dropped to fewer than a few hundred after the complete internet shutdown. This means the supply chain has been entirely disrupted.
This situation demonstrates that the government’s decision to cut off internet access does not only cause financial losses for companies but also directly results in unemployment for thousands of drivers and warehouse workers across the country.