Iran’s foreign trade has entered a period of heightened uncertainty as prolonged disruptions to international internet access paralyze communication, logistics and financial settlements for exporters and importers.
While the immediate impact may not yet be fully reflected in official trade statistics, evidence from the private sector suggests that the damage is mounting and could become structural if restrictions persist.
In today’s globalized economy, internet connectivity is no longer a supporting tool but a core infrastructure for trade. Iranian traders rely heavily on online communication to coordinate shipments, exchange documents, settle payments, track cargo and maintain relationships with foreign partners.
Since the suspension of international internet access following nationwide unrest in early January 2026, many of these basic functions have effectively ceased.
According to representatives of Iran’s Chamber of Commerce, traders are currently unable to send emails, receive shipping documents or communicate delivery schedules. As a result, contractual obligations are being breached, not necessarily due to unwillingness, but because execution has become technically impossible. This exposes exporters to legal claims and financial penalties, while also preventing them from collecting receivables from overseas buyers.
Lasting Loss
The disruption is particularly damaging for non-oil exports, especially agricultural products such as pistachios, dates and saffron, which are time-sensitive and highly competitive in regional and global markets.
Exporters warn that delays in documentation and logistics have already caused goods to pile up in warehouses and trucks to remain stranded at borders. If access is not restored swiftly, rival suppliers from neighboring countries are likely to replace Iranian products, potentially leading to a lasting loss of market share.
Industry estimates suggest that between 50% and 60% of companies active in foreign trade have either suspended operations or are operating at minimal capacity.
Digital marketing firms and online platforms linked to trade have also been hit hard, compounding the shock across supply chains. Although customs authorities and the Trade Promotion Organization maintain that key systems remain operational, private-sector accounts indicate that intermittent outages and coordination failures have slowed clearance procedures and intensified inventory accumulation at ports and customs terminals.
Government officials acknowledge that internet disruptions slow trade flows and distort supply and demand dynamics, potentially pushing import prices higher while constraining export volumes. However, they argue that essential goods imports are being managed through pre-existing contracts and manual procedures where necessary. From this perspective, the most severe effects are expected to materialize with a lag, as pipelines of orders, shipments and payments gradually dry up.
Core Risk
The core risk lies in duration. Short-term disruptions may be absorbed through inventories and prior arrangements, but prolonged isolation undermines trust, reliability and competitiveness—intangibles that are crucial in international trade. Foreign partners, once disengaged, may be reluctant to return even after connectivity is restored.
Ultimately, the episode highlights how deeply Iran’s trade ecosystem depends on digital connectivity. Restoring stable international internet access is not merely a technical or political decision; it is an economic imperative. Without it, Iran’s foreign trade risks slipping from temporary disruption into sustained decline, with lasting consequences for exporters, employment and the balance of supply in domestic markets.
