Iran’s internet connectivity was currently running at “around 1% of ordinary levels,” monitor group Netblocks said on Thursday, leaving most Iranians struggling to access basic information, navigation tools or communication apps.

Those who had successfully connected using virtual private networks, or VPNs, to circumvent the controls had received warnings over their phones.

Calls from overseas to Iranian mobile phones or landlines were near-impossible, making the task of reporting on the conflict difficult for journalists who face tight controls while working in the country.

Inside Iran, simple tasks like checking in on relatives, driving with navigation tools such as Google Maps, or checking websites for information had become impossible.