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17 February 2026

Why Iran is Building a Digital Cage It Can’t Afford

Calla O'Neil

Summary and Key Points: The January 2026 internet blackout in Iran, following protests that erupted on December 28, has exposed the deep failures of the National Information Network (NIN).

-Despite two decades of development, the NIN remains only 60% operational, forcing the regime to cut all global connectivity for 92 million citizens to suppress dissent.

-This digital isolation carries a staggering daily cost of $36 million, crippling e-commerce and banking.

-Meanwhile, Tehran is escalating its war on Starlink with military-grade jammers, proving that internal “intranets” cannot replace global access.

-The strategy emphasizes a regime prioritizing total control over economic survival.

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