GitLab (the company) are legally not permitted to export their product: https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/people-group/code-of-condu...

According to them, that includes downloads.

So no luck there either.

It's not like it's impossible to VPN into the US, download the software from there and then self-host it in Iran.

But I bet it is possible to run their own Gitea instance in Iran

Of course they could have done that, if gitlab had at least given a prior warning...

Some of the screenshot show them even trying to get a temporary account with support just to get what they've been locked out of to make a backup.