Iran
Middle East tension: Iran arrested 466 over online activities
Iranian police have arrested 466 individuals accused of undermining national security and engaging in online activities allegedly linked to efforts by the United States and Israel to create instability, according to media reports.
In a statement, the police information center said the arrests followed “intelligence and technical monitoring” conducted in recent days, as reported by the IRNA news agency.
Those detained are accused of “spreading public fear and anxiety,” “promoting in favor of the enemy,” and “organizing disruptive elements in cyberspace.”
The agency did not specify the exact dates of the arrests.
Meanwhile, Iran has reportedly enforced a near-total internet shutdown since the US-Israeli attack on Tehran on February 28.
Internet monitoring group NetBlocks stated on Tuesday that the blackout has now entered its 25th day, totaling 576 hours.
In a post on X, the group noted that the outage has left citizens largely cut off from the outside world, with only limited, whitelisted access shaping the flow of information.
⚠️ 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
The prolonged disruption has raised concerns about the public’s lack of access to vital updates and their diminished ability to communicate globally, the agency said.
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