Does Astrill work in Iran?

As of Jul 25, 2026, we have not yet verified whether Astrill works in Iran.

Status: unverified
Confidence: low
Last verified: Jul 25, 2026
Method: Vendor ToS (section 5.5, updated January 2026) bars access and use from any country under US/EU/UK sanctions, which covers Iran, so official signup and payment are effectively impossible even if the tunnel worked. No dated in-country test of StealthVPN from Iran exists. Iran ran a near-total internet blackout Jan 8 to May 26, 2026; only V2Ray/Shadowsocks-class tools plus Psiphon/Tor Snowflake have any community track record there.

What we're seeing

Astrill's terms of service, updated January 2026, bar use from countries under comprehensive US, EU, or UK sanctions, which covers Iran. OONI recorded zero measurements of Astrill from Iran even though it actively measures Astrill in China and Egypt in 2026, a genuine coverage gap rather than a signal. No dated 2025-2026 report confirms the tunnel works in Iran, so status stays unverified.

Sources for the above:

forum (Jul 22, 2026): Community circumvention list for Iran recommends OpenConnect, WireGuard/Algo, Tor obfs4, Snowflake, V2Ray. Astrill absent from the list.
user_report (Jul 22, 2026): OONI: every query variant returns zero IR measurements of astrill.com. No network signal in either direction.
vendor (Jul 22, 2026): Section 5.5 prohibits access/use from countries under US/EU/UK sanctions. Iran covered by comprehensive US sanctions. Updated January 2026.
news (Jul 22, 2026): Blackout Jan 8 to May 26, 2026; connectivity ~1% of normal by late April. VPN downloads rose ~500%; Astrill not mentioned in coverage.
user_report (Jul 22, 2026): OONI re-confirmed empty Jul 22 2026: every query variant returns zero IR measurements of astrill.com; no network signal either way

Common questions

Is using a VPN legal in Iran?

Unlicensed VPN use was prohibited by the Supreme Council of Cyberspace in February 2024, and selling VPNs was criminalized in 2023. Millions still use them daily, but formally only licensed services are permitted.

Which VPN works in Iran right now?

As of July 2026, none of the 10 VPNs we track is verified working. Six are blocked outright. Proton, ExpressVPN, and Windscribe are partially working at best, with obfuscation, and results vary by ISP.

Can I pay for a Western VPN from Iran?

Usually not. Sanctions block most card payments from Iran, and some providers refuse Iranian accounts entirely. If you have access to foreign payment methods, set everything up before you need it.