Iran Orders Restoration Of Global Internet Access After Nearly 90-Day Shutdown

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has directed authorities to restore the country’s international internet access, according to a report by Iranian state media on Monday, citing an official from the Communications Ministry’s public relations department.

The move comes after a blackout lasting close to three months, triggered by the war involving the United States and Israel.

The exact timeline and process for reconnecting Iran to the global internet following the presidential order remained unclear at the time of the announcement.

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Internet observatory NetBlocks reported on Monday that most Iranians had been cut off from the worldwide web for 87 days, with only a small number of citizens able to bypass the restrictions through costly and sophisticated VPNs.

The initial blackout was enforced from January 8 as a government response to widespread anti-government protests across the country.

Connectivity had begun returning to normal in February, but a fresh shutdown was imposed after the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28.

Even under ordinary circumstances, Iran’s access to the global internet is significantly restricted, with extensive website censorship in place.

Authorities have also been progressively shifting toward a domestic intranet to deliver online services without dependence on the worldwide web, a model increasingly adopted by schools, which are currently running on an online curriculum.