Iran Restores Internet Access After Prolonged Blackout
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has directed the resumption of internet services across the nation, following a long-standing digital blackout that lasted for several months, according to state media reports.
This announcement, made public on Monday by Iran’s Communications Ministry, indicates that internet access has been partially restored, as noted by The Times of Israel.
“The first step toward free and regulated access to cyberspace has been taken,” Mohammad Reza Aref posted on X on Tuesday.
Monitoring organizations like Netblocks and Kentik have confirmed this partial restoration. However, Kentik has alerted that most internal networks are still completely offline.
The blackout was imposed after widespread anti-regime protests erupted in all 31 provinces in late December, primarily fueled by the deteriorating economy. This situation made it difficult for the international community to gauge the safety of citizens and obscured the death toll from protests, especially during a U.S.-Israeli military operation called Operation Epic Fury that began on February 28, about two months after the protests started.
An Iranian refugee, who spoke under the condition of anonymity for safety, shared with NewsNation that some individuals have managed to access the internet and communicate with people in Iran, stressing the country’s dire status.
“More and more people are being hastily sentenced to execution. People are barely surviving. Those with rare diseases, special medical conditions, or illnesses, such as cancer, are among the first to pay the ultimate price with their lives,” the source revealed.
“Many food items, such as chicken and red meat, they cannot afford. People are selling their cars, homes, and properties to survive,” they added.
“The school year is almost over, and due to the internet blackout, … children are being left without proper education,” they concluded.
Another refugee had told the outlet in April that some Iranians were using illegal virtual private networks (VPNs) to access the internet. This practice was banned in 2024 by the regime’s Supreme Council of Cyberspace under then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed during the initial U.S. airstrikes at the end of February.
🚨 IRAN’S INTERNET IS BACK ONLINE AFTER 88 DAYS
NetBlocks reports that Iran’s internet connectivity has rebounded to 86% after a record 88-day blackout. Mobile networks and other segments are now being reconnected, though restrictions on most social media platforms reportedly persist.
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