Iran’s Ban on Telegram: Why Millions Are Using VPNs to Access the App in 2026

TLDR

• Iran implemented a Telegram ban several years ago, yet tens of millions of users still access the platform through VPNs
• Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov has confirmed that 50 million Iranians and 50 million Russians are currently using VPNs to access the messaging app
• Iran imposed a nationwide internet blackout in January 2026 amid its ongoing conflict with Israel and the United States
• Local residents are also using Starlink and BitChat, a Bluetooth mesh messaging app, to stay connected
• BitChat recorded 48,000 downloads in Nepal during a 2025 social media ban, and the Nepali government was overthrown later that same month

(SeaPRwire) –   Iran imposed a Telegram ban several years ago, and the measure ultimately failed.

This is the update shared by Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov, who noted on Friday that tens of millions of Iranians continue to use the app by routing their internet traffic through virtual private networks, or VPNs.

VPNs operate by routing internet traffic through servers located in other nations. This conceals a user’s real location and allows them to bypass national internet blocks.

Durov explained that the Iranian government had intended for its ban to push users toward state-sanctioned messaging applications that officials could monitor, but instead, the policy drove people toward privacy-focused tools.

Iran implemented a Telegram ban several years ago, with an outcome similar to what happened in Russia. The government had hoped for widespread use of its surveillance-focused messaging apps, but instead saw mass adoption of VPNs. Today, the 50 million members of Iran’s Digital Resistance are joined by over 50 million more users in Russia.

— Pavel Durov (@durov) April 4, 2026

“The government had pushed for widespread use of its surveillance-focused messaging apps, but instead witnessed mass adoption of VPNs,” Durov shared in his post.

Durov estimated that roughly 50 million people in Iran use VPNs, and noted that over 50 million people in Russia are utilizing the same privacy tools.

Iran’s National Internet Blackout

Iran’s circumstances have grown more severe since January 2026, when the government enacted a nationwide internet blackout. This shutdown is tied to the ongoing regional conflict between Iran, Israel, and the United States, and it remains active as of now.

Even with the blackout in place, some local residents are still able to access the internet. One way they do this is through Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet service. Iran has also banned Starlink, yet residents continue to use the platform.

Another alternative is BitChat, an application that does not rely on the internet at all. The tool builds a mesh network using Bluetooth signals between nearby devices, with every smartphone acting as a relay to pass messages between other phones running the app within a set range.

This functionality means BitChat can operate even when both standard internet and satellite connections have been restricted.

BitChat’s Expanding Role in Protest Movements

BitChat has been utilized in previous instances where governments have implemented internet shutdowns.

In September 2025, Nepal imposed a ban on social media amid widespread protests. During that week, BitChat saw more than 48,000 downloads across the country. Nepal’s government was ousted by protesters later that same month.

A similar surge in BitChat downloads was documented in Madagascar during protests held around the same period.

Durov characterized this broader shift as a form of digital resistance, referencing what he calls “50 million members of the digital resistance in Iran.”

As of the time of Durov’s Friday post, the Iranian government’s internet blackout—first launched in January 2026—remains in effect.