Iran's Revolutionary Guard Sells Internet Access to 'Loyalists Only' as Economy Loses $1.8 Billion

A two-month-long internet blackout in Iran has inflicted $1.8 billion in economic losses and severed daily life for millions, while the Revolutionary Guard selectively sells premium access to a favored elite, according to Israeli media reports. The crisis, which began on January 8, shows no signs of resolution, leaving ordinary citizens isolated from the global web.

The Israeli news site Walla! detailed how the Revolutionary Guard controls access through the telecommunications company MCI, a firm linked to Guard-affiliated business groups. Users must pass a vetting process proving commercial, academic, or scientific affiliation to purchase the service. This system relies on "white SIM" cards, which are exempt from government blocking systems and provide a semi-open path to the global network.

Economic Devastation and a 'Silent Earthquake'

Data from the organization NetBlocks confirms that Iran has surpassed 70 consecutive days of internet disconnection, an unprecedented record that has transformed daily life. Across the country, the blackout is described as a "silent earthquake" destroying entire sectors of the economy. Business owners, freelancers, students, and tech professionals find themselves cut off from their most basic tools. For the majority, the internet is not a luxury but a lifeline; human rights activists estimate economic losses have exceeded $1.8 billion in just two months.

While ordinary Iranians struggle with expensive, unstable VPN services on the black market, a select few enjoy enhanced access through a new service called "Internet Pro." This service allows authorized users to bypass most censorship mechanisms and obtain a stable, relatively fast connection to international sites and services—a connection that was once available to the general public. The gap between those who can afford this enhanced access and the common citizen has widened dramatically.

Internal Cracks and Public Fury

CNN quoted one Iranian describing the situation as "like a kick in the stomach." The individual added that people are already struggling to survive amid inflation and unemployment, only to discover a small class living in a completely different digital world, thanks to payments made to the Revolutionary Guard. Even within Iran, unprecedented criticism has emerged. Pro-regime newspapers have warned of the rise of a "digital elite" facing a weak and isolated public.

Labor organizations, nurses' unions, and bar associations have announced their refusal to use the service in solidarity with citizens. The Iranian Psychiatric Association warned that "dividing the internet by social class may increase feelings of alienation, psychological pressure, and loss of public trust." Meanwhile, cracks are appearing within the regime itself. While conservatives and security apparatus loyalists supported the move, members of President Masoud Pezeshkian's administration have tried to publicly distance themselves. The president's office claimed that "restricting access to the internet is unjust, and no real justification has been given for continuing this policy." The Minister of Communications stated that "good internet is the right of every Iranian."

According to Walla!, the reality on the ground is starkly different: the internet blockade continues, VPN prices are skyrocketing, and a growing number of Iranians are seeking ways to bypass the restrictions, including using illegally smuggled Starlink dishes.