Call Iran During the Internet Blackout: Honest 2026 Rate Comparison
Iran internet blackout entered its 73rd day in May 2026. Real PSTN calls still reach landlines and mobile voice channels — verified rates from Rebtel (15¢/min), KeepCalling, BubblyPhone ($0.67/min) and others. Honest comparison including when BubblyPhone is NOT the cheapest.
As of May 2026: Iran's internet blackout has entered its 73rd day.
Per NetBlocks monitoring, the country has been near-fully disconnected from the global internet for over 1,700 hours. WhatsApp, FaceTime, Telegram, Signal, IMO and every other app-based voice service that depends on data connectivity in Iran is unusable. The only reliable way to reach family in Iran right now is a service that terminates as a regular PSTN phone call — landline or cellular voice channel, both of which run on infrastructure separate from internet data.
This guide is for the global Iranian diaspora — about 5–6 million people across the US, Canada, UK, Germany, UAE, Turkey and Australia — trying to call relatives in Tehran, Mashhad, Esfahan, Shiraz, Tabriz and elsewhere during the longest internet shutdown ever recorded in any country. Below: an honest comparison of which services genuinely work during a blackout, verified per-minute rates (Iran is one of the more expensive countries to call due to wholesale termination costs, sanctions and complex routing), and the specific carrier prefixes you'll dial.
We'll tell you up front: BubblyPhone is not the cheapest option for Iran. Specialised Iran-focused services like Rebtel and KeepCalling have negotiated dedicated termination contracts and are 4× cheaper for sustained calling. We'll show you the verified rates and when each option makes sense.
Call Iran during the blackout
What still works to reach Iran:
- Real-number VoIP services (PSTN termination)
- Carrier ISD calls from your home phone
- Calls to Iranian mobile voice channel (separate from data)
- Calls to Iranian landlines (TCI / state operator)
What doesn't work right now:
- WhatsApp voice/video (no Iran data)
- FaceTime, Telegram, Signal voice
- IMO, Messenger, Viber voice
- Any browser/app calling that needs Iran-side internet
Iran country code: +98 · Dial: 011 98 (from US) / 00 98 (from most countries) / +98 from mobile
Why Phone Calls Still Reach Iran During the Internet Blackout
This is the part many diaspora callers don't initially understand. Iran's internet shutdown is about data connectivity — the path that carries WhatsApp, Telegram, web browsing, social media, and app-based VoIP. The traditional voice telephony network is a separate piece of infrastructure:
- Iranian landlines connect through the Telecommunication Company of Iran (TCI) and other state operators. They run over copper / fibre / SDH circuits, not internet. Voice channel.
- Iranian mobile networks (MCI, Irancell, Rightel)have a voice path and a data path. The data path (3G/4G/5G internet) is what's been throttled or cut. The voice path — what carries normal voice calls — uses GSM/UMTS/LTE-voice circuits and continues to operate.
- International interconnectbetween, say, AT&T or Deutsche Telekom and the Iranian carriers happens over SS7/SIP trunks dedicated to voice. These have remained operational throughout the blackout.
- Sanctions complicate routing— many wholesale carriers can't directly interconnect with Iranian operators, so calls route through 2–3 intermediary carriers in the Gulf or Eastern Europe. This adds to per-minute cost but doesn't prevent the call from completing.
Bottom line:if your relative in Iran has any working phone — landline, mobile, even a basic feature phone — a real-number international call from your side will ring at theirs. The 73-day blackout has not changed this. What you cannot do is video-call them or use any internet-based messaging app for voice.
Honest Verified Rates to Iran (May 2026)
Iran is one of the more expensive destinations because of complex international routing (sanctions push calls through 2–3 intermediary carriers, each charging a slice). Services that specialise in Iran have negotiated direct wholesale termination contracts and undercut general-purpose VoIP services by 4–5×. We pulled current rates from each service's public site in May 2026:
| Service | Landline | Mobile | Monthly Plan | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rebtel | $0.15/min | $0.17/min | $10/mo — 65 min | Cheapest pay-as-you-go for Iran |
| KeepCalling | $0.169/min | $0.249/min | $18.99/mo — 90 min @ $0.211 | Heavy callers (90+ min/mo) |
| Tello / Talk Home / Lyca | ~$0.20–0.30/min | ~$0.25–0.35/min | Various | Worth checking specific plan |
| BubblyPhone | $0.6665/min | $0.67–0.82/min by carrier | None Iran-specific | Already have credit; one-off call |
| Carrier ISD (US/UK) | $1–3/min | $1.50–5/min | Some have Iran add-ons | Emergency only |
| WhatsApp / FaceTime / Telegram | Not working — Iran blackout | Not working | — | Wait for blackout to end |
Rates verified from each service's public website in May 2026. Rebtel, KeepCalling and BubblyPhone rates checked directly; Tello/Talk Home/Lyca rates vary by plan tier.
Real-world math:a 30-minute call to your family in Tehran on Rebtel costs ~$4.50–5.10. The same call on BubblyPhone costs ~$20–25, and on your carrier ISD it can run $30–150. If you're going to be calling Iran sustainedly during the blackout, the $10/month Rebtel plan or KeepCalling's $19/month plan will save you significant money. We're telling you this even though it sends the revenue elsewhere — because it's the truth, and an Iranian family with a $20 BubblyPhone call when a $5 Rebtel call would have done the same thing is bad for everyone.
When BubblyPhone Still Makes Sense for Iran
Despite being more expensive per minute, BubblyPhone is the right choice when:
- You already have BubblyPhone creditfrom calling other countries (India, Pakistan, Philippines, UAE etc. where we're competitive) and just need to add a few Iran calls without opening a second account.
- One-off Iran callrather than sustained — signing up for Rebtel for a single 10-minute conversation isn't worth the setup, but $7 spent through BubblyPhone's existing browser dialler is fine.
- You need browser-only calling from a desktop or laptop with no installable apps allowed (work network, public computer, restricted environment). BubblyPhone is web-only; Rebtel typically requires their app.
- Verified outbound caller IDmatters — you want the Iranian recipient to see a real US/UK number rather than “Unknown” or a random relay number.
Iranian Mobile and Landline Number Decoder
Iranian mobile numbers start with 09 domestically; from abroad you drop the leading 0 and prefix with +98. The third digit identifies the carrier:
| Prefix (after +98) | Carrier | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 91, 99 | MCI / Hamrah-e Aval | Largest Iranian network; state operator |
| 93, 90, 92 | Irancell (MTN) | Second-largest; private operator |
| 94 | RighTel | Third operator, smaller footprint |
| 95, 96, 97, 98 | MVNOs & specialised | Anarestan, Shatel Mobile, ApTel, etc. |
Major Iranian Landline Area Codes
| City | Dial from abroad |
|---|---|
| Tehran | +98 21 |
| Mashhad | +98 51 |
| Esfahan / Isfahan | +98 31 |
| Shiraz | +98 71 |
| Tabriz | +98 41 |
| Karaj | +98 26 |
| Qom | +98 25 |
How to Dial Iran
From different countries
From the United States or Canada:
011 + 98 + (Iranian number without leading 0)From the UK / Germany / most of Europe:
00 + 98 + numberFrom Australia:
0011 + 98 + numberFrom any mobile (universal):
+98 + numberExamples: Tehran landline 021 1234 5678 → +98 21 1234 5678. MCI mobile 0912 345 6789 → +98 912 345 6789.
Why None of the Free App Calls Work Right Now
For completeness, here's what won't connect to a typical Iranian recipient during the current blackout:
- WhatsApp voice/video— needs internet on both sides. Iran side has no internet. Won't ring.
- FaceTime audio/video— same problem; needs Iran-side data.
- Telegram voice— same; plus Telegram was already heavily throttled in Iran before the blackout.
- Signal voice— same data requirement; widely censored historically.
- IMO / Viber / Messenger voice— all rely on Iran-side data.
- Browser-based free callers (PopTox, iEvaphone, Globfone)— these terminate as PSTN calls and technicallyshould still reach Iran. But their wholesale routing to Iran is sparse and unreliable; most don't support Iran on the free tier even in normal times.
The “Internet Pro” Tier Note
Recent CNN and NPR reporting (May 2026) describes a two-tier Iranian internet: a privileged “Internet Pro” access tier available to elites, government, and select businesses while the general population is offline. If you're trying to reach someone who has Internet Pro access, app-based VoIP may actually work for them. For everyone else, it doesn't — and that's the vast majority of the population.
Try BubblyPhone for Iran (Honestly)
BubblyPhone is around $0.67–0.82/min to Iran — not the cheapest. If you need a one-off call without committing to another service, our 30-minute signup credit covers about 4–5 minutes of Iran calling free. After that, Rebtel's 15¢/min rate will save you money for sustained calling.
We're telling you this because the goal is to help you reach your family, not to oversell. If we're the right tool for you today, we're ready.
Try BubblyPhone Free →Common Questions
Can I call Iran during the internet blackout?
Yes — ordinary phone calls to Iranian landlines and mobile numbers still work throughout the blackout, because voice telephony runs on infrastructure separate from internet data. WhatsApp, FaceTime, Telegram and all app-based voice services fail because they need internet on the Iran side, but a regular PSTN call from any international service (Rebtel, KeepCalling, BubblyPhone, your home carrier) will reach your relative on their cellular voice channel or landline.
How long has Iran's internet been blocked?
Per NetBlocks monitoring (as of mid-May 2026), Iran has been in a near-total internet blackout for over 73 days — the longest and most severe ever recorded in any country. The shutdown began in late February / early March 2026 following political unrest. Economic toll estimated at $250 million per day per international reporting.
What is the cheapest way to call Iran from the US in 2026?
Verified May 2026: Rebtel at $0.15/min landline, $0.17/min mobile, or $10/month for 65 minutes is the cheapest pay-as-you-go option. KeepCalling at $0.169–0.249/min or their $18.99/month plan for 90 minutes is a strong alternative for heavy users. BubblyPhone at $0.67–0.82/min is more expensive per minute but useful for one-off calls without setting up another account. Avoid your home carrier's standard ISD rate which can be $1–5/min.
Why is calling Iran so expensive compared to other countries?
Three factors: (1) US, EU and UK sanctions complicate direct wholesale interconnect with Iranian carriers, so most calls route through 2–3 intermediary wholesalers in the Gulf, Turkey or Eastern Europe, each charging a slice; (2) Iranian state operators have less competition pressure on wholesale termination rates than, say, Indian operators (where Jio drove rates close to zero); (3) lower call volume means less negotiating leverage for VoIP providers, except specialists like Rebtel that maintain dedicated Iran contracts.
Will my call to Iran show my real number or “Unknown”?
Depends on the service. Calls placed from your home mobile or landline show your real number on Iranian caller ID. Rebtel typically shows your registered number. KeepCalling shows your registered phone number. BubblyPhone shows your verified configured outbound caller ID. Free browser-callers usually show “Unknown” and may be filtered by spam filters — though these are less aggressive on Iranian carriers than in the US or UK.
Is calling Iran from the US legal?
Yes — person-to-person voice calling between the US and Iran is permitted under OFAC's Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations general license for personal communications. Commercial use, payments to Iran, or business dealings with Iranian government entities have separate restrictions. For ordinary family calls, nothing on your side requires special authorisation.
What time zone is Iran? When's the best time to call?
Iran is on IRST (UTC+3:30) — an unusual 30-minute offsetthat catches diaspora callers out. From US Eastern Time, Iran is 8½ hours ahead (in winter) or 7½ hours ahead (in summer when US observes DST and Iran no longer does since 2022). Best call windows: 10–11 AM ET hits 5:30–6:30 PM Iran (evening, ideal). 8–10 PM ET hits 3:30–5:30 AM Iran (avoid).
What about the “Internet Pro” tier in Iran?
International press (CNN, NPR, May 2026) reported on a two-tier internet inside Iran: privileged “Internet Pro” access available to government, elites and selected businesses, while ordinary citizens remain offline. If your relative has access to Internet Pro, app-based VoIP (WhatsApp, FaceTime) may function on their side. For the vast majority of Iranian residents, it does not — and the practical answer remains PSTN calling.
Related Resources
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