Does Proton VPN work in Iran?

As of Jul 22, 2026, Proton VPN is partially working in Iran.

Status: degraded
Confidence: low
Last verified: Jul 22, 2026
Method: Works only via Stealth protocol plus Alternative Routing per Proton track record during Iranian censorship spikes; protonvpn.com is DNS-blocked in-country; no fresh in-country confirmation the tunnel connects

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.

Set on Proton VPN? It is partially working in Iran right now. Check the method notes above before you buy. Get Proton VPN

What we're seeing

OONI shows protonvpn.com DNS-blocked on 14 confirmed measurements out of 20 from July 18-21, 2026, including TCI and Irancell. Proton has a documented record of connecting through Iranian censorship spikes via Stealth protocol with Alternative Routing, and official guidance cited on Reddit through January 2025 said it works free and paid that way. Mixed user reports (some blocked, some partial with high ping) keep this at degraded, low confidence.

Sources for the above:

user_report (Jul 21, 2026): OONI Jul 18-21 2026: 19/20 anomalous, 14 confirmed DNS-blocked across AS58224 (TCI), AS44244 (Irancell), AS206065, AS197207, AS202468; website not tunnel
reddit (Jul 21, 2026): Background (archive-observed, Dec 2024 to Jan 2025): r/ProtonVPN cites official guidance that Proton works in Iran free and paid via Stealth; newest item Jan 2025, stale
reddit (Jul 21, 2026): Background (archive-observed, 2024-2025, mixed): some users report Proton blocked in Iran, others partial with high ping; paid tier outperformed standard protocols during 2022 protests; V2Ray more reliable at peak censorship

Latest reports for Proton VPN here:

Not working · 23d ago
Not working · 23d ago
Working · 25d ago

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.