Does Mullvad work in Iran?
As of Jul 22, 2026, Mullvad is blocked in Iran.
- Status
- blocked
- Confidence
- medium
- Last verified
- Jul 22, 2026
- Method
- mullvad.net DNS-blocked in-country; bridges/Shadowsocks and QUIC obfuscation may still tunnel but no recent in-country confirmation; the site block also impedes signup and app download
Working alternatives in Iran
No VPN is currently verified as working in Iran. We would rather say that than guess. Check back after the next weekly verification pass.
What we're seeing
OONI confirms DNS blocking of mullvad.net on 16 of 20 measurements from July 18-21, 2026, including on TCI and Irancell. The community trendline points the same way: 2022-2023 posts described degraded-but-working, and by November 2024 reports said Mullvad was not usable in Iran anymore and account creation was denied. The site block also gets in the way of signup and app download for new users.
Sources for the above:
- user_report (Jul 21, 2026): OONI Jul 18-21 2026: 19/20 anomalous, 16 confirmed DNS blocking across AS58224 (TCI), AS44244 (Irancell), AS206065, AS197207, AS202468, AS31549, AS43754; website not tunnel
- reddit (Jul 21, 2026): Background (archive-observed): r/mullvadvpn Nov 2024 reports Mullvad not usable anymore in Iran and account creation denied; 2022-2023 posts show degraded-but-working; direction over time is working to blocked
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.