Critical infrastructure, official news sites, and security communications systems reportedly stopped functioning, leaving the leadership in a communications blackout at home and abroad.NetBlocks confirmed on Saturday that internet connectivity in Iran plunged to an extremely low level, reaching 4% of normal traffic, signaling an almost total shutdown of nationwide access. The attack reportedly also hit the regime’s propaganda arms: the IRNA website was taken offline for an extended period, and Tasnim, which is identified with the IRGC, experienced severe disruptions and hacks that reportedly displayed subversive messages against Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.Attack meant to prevent IRGC coordination
Western intelligence sources said the damage to the IRGC’s communications infrastructure was meant to prevent coordination of counterattacks and disrupt the ability to launch drones and ballistic missiles by Iranian cyber and electronic units.
Saturday’s assault was described as unprecedented in scale, combining electronic warfare that disrupted navigation and communications systems with denial-of-service attacks (DDoS) and deep intrusions into data systems tied to the country’s energy and aviation infrastructure. As the regime tried to rely on its isolated “national internet” network, reports suggested it also failed under the pressure of the combined offensive, leaving Iran exposed and isolated during a moment of acute crisis.
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