Iran Loses More Than $20 Million A Day Due To Internet Outage

• 25.01.2026, 21:31

Authorities in the country are shutting down the internet because of the protests.

The shutdown of the Internet by Iranian authorities to quell protests in the country has cost the country's economy dearly. According to Turkiye Today, citing data from the Iranian Organization of Computer Engineering and Information Technology Professionals, direct losses from the blackout alone have already exceeded $370 million.

The industry group estimates that Iran's economy loses 20-30 trillion rials ($20.6 million) every day just because digital banking systems are down, trade is disrupted and businesses are unable to operate normally. The amount of losses already incurred does not take into account indirect consequences, such as declining investor confidence, a drop in global competitiveness ratings, capital outflows and accelerating brain drain, the report said.

Iranian authorities shut down the internet on January 8, shortly after protests erupted across the country against the current regime, corruption and deteriorating economic conditions. The day before, the head of Iran's national telecommunications company said internet access would be restored "today or tomorrow." And the Supreme National Security Council allegedly approved the restoration of connectivity.

But as NGO NetBlocks reports, connectivity in Iran has not been restored, and the blackout has continued for more than 400 hours. Only some Iranian citizens have been able to access the Internet, and only to a limited list of Internet resources approved by the authorities. "And short-term spikes in connectivity give the false impression of a broader restoration of connectivity," NetBlocks wrote.