Does Private Internet Access work in Iran?

As of Jul 22, 2026, Private Internet Access is blocked in Iran.

Status
blocked
Confidence
high
Last verified
Jul 22, 2026
Method
privateinternetaccess.com confirmed DNS-blocked (101 confirmed blocks in 30 days of OONI data); no obfuscation mode; Iran interrupts TLS handshakes to kill OpenVPN and WireGuard per community reports

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

This is one of our firmest calls in Iran. OONI logged 101 confirmed blocks of privateinternetaccess.com over the last 30 days (169 measurements total), and the latest probes on July 21, 2026 still show DNS blocking across six networks. Community reports match: a May 2024 post says PIA completely stopped working in Iran, and a 2022 post describes Iran interrupting TLS handshakes to kill OpenVPN and WireGuard. PIA has no obfuscation mode to route around any of it.

Sources for the above:

Is Private Internet Access working for you right now?

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.

Related