Iranian authorities announced on Tuesday the arrest of 466 people accused of attempting to destabilise the country through online activity, state media reported, as the conflict with the United States and Israel continues.
State news agency IRNA, which cited Iranian police, said the individuals ” sought to sow confusion in public opinion, create fear and anxiety in society, promote insecurity and spread propaganda in favour of the enemy.”
The agency did not provide details on the specific online activities or the dates of the arrests.
The arrests come as Iran remains under a near-total internet blackout following the February 28 strikes by US and Israeli forces that killed the country’s supreme leader.

Internet monitoring group Netblocks reported on Tuesday that the blackout has entered its 25th day.
⚠️ Update: #Iran‘s internet blackout has entered its 25th day after 576 hours, leaving the public isolated from the world as whitelisted accounts seek to take control of the narrative. The measure leaves civilians without vital updates and without a voice on the global stage. pic.twitter.com/64N51Is1bS
— NetBlocks (@netblocks) March 24, 2026
Only a small number of authorised users currently have access to the global internet in Iran. Others have attempted to circumvent the restrictions using VPNs or Starlink, which are punishable by imprisonment.
Despite the blackout, Iranians can still access the local intranet for communication and online services.
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