Moving money during an Iranian internet shutdown: how to place and confirm a request

In 2026 Iran went through two wide cuts of its international internet, and each time thousands of families who move money between Iran and Türkiye faced a simple question: when messaging apps and e-mail do not work, how do I send a transfer request, and how do I know the person on the other end is really who I think? This article is a general, precautionary guide: what usually keeps working during a shutdown, what to prepare in advance, and how to place and confirm a request without international internet. The information about the shutdowns comes from dated reports, and every shutdown differs from the last.

What happened in the 2026 shutdowns

• 8 January 2026: the monitoring group NetBlocks reported a nationwide internet blackout in Iran alongside protests (Al Jazeera).
• From 28 February 2026: after military strikes, international access was cut almost completely and, according to CNBC citing NetBlocks, the blackout lasted for weeks. Filterwatch's March report writes that the domestic network (the National Information Network) stayed partly reachable but became unstable from mid-March: some domestic messaging apps went offline, the online systems of two large banks were down for more than a week, and field reports described limits on ATM withdrawals.

The lesson of both episodes is clear: in a shutdown, not only international internet but domestic tools can become unstable too, and your plan must not rest on a single channel.

What usually works and what does not

Before a shutdown: what to prepare

1. Keep contact details offline. The phone number of the exchange office in Istanbul, the number of a trusted person in Türkiye and backup numbers should be on paper or in the phone's own memory, not only inside a messaging app.

2. Agree a passphrase or security question. In normal times, agree with the exchange office, or with the relative who receives the money, a simple phrase or a few questions and answers known only to the two of you. During a shutdown, this phrase replaces online confirmations.

3. Confirm the fixed details in advance. The recipient's full name as on their document, the destination IBAN or account number, and the unit of the amount (toman or rial) should be confirmed in writing in normal times and kept offline; during a shutdown you state only the amount and the timing, not the full details.

4. Have documents ready. Keep images of identity documents and source-of-funds documents somewhere reachable without international internet, so that if the office asks for documents for your amount you are not held up.

5. Designate a representative. If you have a relative or friend in Türkiye or another country, introduce them to the exchange office in writing in normal times and define their authority (for example only following up, or placing requests up to a set amount). That way, during a shutdown someone with full internet can follow up.

6. Separate recurring payments from the last minute. If you have rent, tuition or an instalment with a fixed date in Türkiye, schedule the transfer a few days ahead so that a sudden shutdown does not catch you out.

During a shutdown: placing and confirming a request

• Placing it: by phone call or SMS, state the type of service (for example a transfer to Türkiye or a transfer to Iran), the amount with its unit, and a fixed identifier confirmed in advance (such as “the same account as before”). Never read out sensitive details such as full card numbers or passwords over the phone.
• Confirming identity: ask for the agreed phrase and answer it yourself. If the other side does not know it, do not continue.
• Confirming details: have the other side read back the amount, the unit and the recipient's name, and repeat them yourself. Mixing up toman and rial is more common on a phone call than in writing.
• Call back: if someone calls you claiming to be the exchange office or a relative, hang up and call the number you already have.
• Rate and fee: as in normal times, the rate, fee and timing must be stated before execution; a shutdown is no reason to accept unclear conditions.
• Receipt: ask for written confirmation to be sent as soon as communication is restored, and until then keep an exact note of the date, time, amount and the name of the person you spoke to.

Fraud during shutdown days

An internet shutdown is prime time for scammers, because you cannot check anything quickly. Common patterns: an SMS claiming “there is a problem with your transfer, pay into this account immediately”, a call from a “relative” stranded abroad who needs money now, or “support” asking for a verification code or password. Three permanent rules:

1. Never move money on the basis of an unverified call or message; do not skip the call-back and the agreed phrase, even if the voice sounds familiar.
2. Never send a code, password or document image to an unknown number.
3. Treat “urgency” as a warning sign, not a reason to hurry. To recognise a trustworthy exchange office, read this guide.

After communication is restored

When the internet returns, reconcile every request from the shutdown period against receipts and written messages, follow up any discrepancy immediately, and if you used the security phrase over the phone and have any doubt, agree a new one.

About EL DÖVİZ

During a shutdown a request can be placed by phone call or message, and as always the rate, fee and details of every request are confirmed with you before execution. The best time to arrange numbers, the agreed phrase and the introduction of a representative is in normal times; the guide to moving money from Iran to Türkiye explains the available routes.

In short

A cut in international internet does not make money transfers impossible; it makes them depend on phone calls, SMS and trust built in advance. Someone who has prepared numbers, an agreed phrase, fixed details and documents states only the amount and timing during a shutdown and moves on with two-way confirmation. Someone who has not is either stuck or exposed to fraud. A few minutes of preparation in normal times is the difference between the two.