Iran Begins Restoring Internet Access After Nearly Three-Month Blackout
Iran’s government has begun restoring internet access to its population, the BBC reported Tuesday, ending a blackout that lasted nearly three months and ranks among the longest nationally imposed shutdowns ever documented.
Iran’s first vice-president Mohammad Reza Aref announced the move on social media. He described it as a first step toward what he called “free and regulated access to cyberspace.”
Monitors Flag Partial and Uneven Reconnection
Internet monitoring organisations Netblocks and Kentik both observed a partial return of connectivity around midday GMT on Tuesday. Kentik cautioned, however, that the majority of Iranian networks were still offline at that point.
Netblocks research director Isik Mater told the BBC the situation mirrored past Iranian shutdowns, where restoration typically unfolds gradually over several hours. She noted meaningful regional variation in access levels across the country.
Mater also flagged a worrying pattern. Each previous lifting of an Iranian internet blackout has come with tighter controls than existed before, she said. This instance appears no different. Messaging platforms including WhatsApp face additional restrictions, potentially leaving families unable to reach relatives abroad.
Background: A Wartime Measure With Precedent
The Iranian government severed internet access on 28 February, the day US and Israeli strikes began. Officials at the time cited the need to block foreign surveillance and cyberattack vectors.
The shutdown was not Iran’s first. A comparable blackout was imposed in January during a violent state crackdown on anti-government demonstrations. When that earlier blackout ended, Iran enjoyed only about a month of relatively open access before the war-related shutdown hit.
Between those two periods, the government introduced a paid “internet pro” scheme, offering faster and more reliable connectivity to verified businesses and professionals for a fee. The programme drew sharp criticism from the public and was characterised by some officials as a temporary measure rather than standing policy.
Ceasefire Tensions Persist Despite Reconnection
The partial restoration arrives against a backdrop of continued military friction. The US conducted fresh strikes on Iranian missile sites and vessels it alleged were attempting to lay naval mines in southern Iran on Monday. Iran condemned those actions as a ceasefire violation.
A ceasefire agreement reached on 8 April has not halted all hostilities. Peace negotiations are continuing, though Iran signalled this week that a broader deal with Washington is not imminent.
Residents in Tehran and Isfahan reported being able to connect via home Wi-Fi on Tuesday. One Tehran-based content creator told the BBC he was relieved. A portion of his livelihood, he said, would now return.
