Does PureVPN work in Iran?
As of Jul 22, 2026, PureVPN is blocked in Iran.
- Status
- blocked
- Confidence
- medium
- Last verified
- Jul 22, 2026
- Method
- purevpn.com predominantly DNS-blocked in-country (ISP- and resolver-dependent, not 100 percent uniform); no recent report that the obfuscated 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.
What we're seeing
OONI measurements from July 18-21, 2026 show purevpn.com blocked on 19 of 20 probes, 12 confirmed, across six Iranian networks. A minority of measurements still resolve the domain on some ISPs, so the blocking is not universal. We found no Iran-specific PureVPN report newer than October 2022 in either direction, and nothing says the tunnel currently connects.
Sources for the above:
- reddit (Jul 21, 2026): Background (archive-observed): only hit is a stale Oct 2022 post; no recent Iran-specific PureVPN reports retrievable
- user_report (Jul 21, 2026): OONI Jul 18-21 2026: 19/20 anomalous, 12 confirmed DNS blocks across AS44244, AS44208, AS206065, AS58224, AS31549, AS49100; website not tunnel
- user_report (Jul 21, 2026): OONI counter-evidence: a minority of recent measurements resolve the domain (AS58224 Jul 21, AS142578 Jul 13, AS31549 Jul 10); blocking is ISP-dependent, not universal
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.