Iran’s strict internet shutdown is crushing an already shaky economy
Iran has imposed one of the world's longest and strictest internet shutdowns in 2026, severely damaging its already fragile economy. The blackout, which began during anti-government protests and intensified with regional conflict, has crippled online businesses and cut off 90 million people from the global web. With daily economic losses estimated at $30–40 million, millions dependent on internet-connected jobs face mounting hardship.
- ▪Iran’s internet shutdown, ongoing for most of 2026, has cut off its 90 million residents from the global internet.
- ▪Fashion designer Amen Khademi and countless other small business owners have lost all income due to the inability to access online customers.
- ▪The internet cutoff is costing Iran’s economy $30–40 million per day, with indirect losses likely double that amount.
- ▪Online retailer DigiKala laid off 200 employees, reflecting broader job losses across the digital economy.
- ▪Before the blackout, platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp were vital for small businesses to survive under sanctions and inflation.
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World News Iran’s strict internet shutdown is crushing an already shaky economy By Associated Press Published May 1, 2026, 4:06 p.m. ET At her studio in Iran’s capital, Amen Khademi prepared a fashion shoot for a jacket she designed with Persian-inspired motifs. But even as she applied lipstick to the model, she was distracted, worrying if her business would survive after four months without its main link to customers — the internet. Iran’s 90 million people have been cut off from the internet for most of 2026, one of the world’s longest and strictest national shutdowns. That is devastating an online economy that had long defied government restrictions and international sanctions. From fashion to fitness, to advertising and retailers, many have seen their incomes evaporate.
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