By Zoey
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has ordered the reopening of international internet access across the country after nearly three months of severe restrictions that left millions of Iranians cut off from the global web, according to reports carried by Iranian state media on Monday.
The announcement, citing officials from Iran’s Communications Ministry, marked the first major step toward restoring broader connectivity following an 87-day digital blackout imposed during a period of escalating regional conflict and domestic unrest. The restrictions were introduced in the aftermath of military confrontations involving the United States and Israel and came amid growing anti-government protests inside Iran.
While authorities confirmed the presidential directive, it remained unclear how quickly access would be restored or what technical measures would be used to reconnect the country fully to the international internet. Government officials did not provide a timetable for implementation, leaving uncertainty for millions of users who have spent months relying on limited domestic networks or expensive virtual private networks to bypass restrictions.
Internet monitoring organization NetBlocks reported that most of Iran’s population had effectively been disconnected from unrestricted global internet services for nearly three months. During that period, only a small number of people with access to sophisticated VPN services were able to maintain partial access to international websites and applications.
The latest shutdown began after U.S. and Israeli military strikes against Iran on February 28, prompting authorities to tighten digital controls nationwide. Officials argued that limiting communications was necessary for national security and to prevent the spread of unrest. The move followed an earlier blackout imposed on January 8 after demonstrations erupted across several Iranian cities. Connectivity had gradually improved in February before restrictions were reimposed amid the regional conflict.
Throughout the blackout, many popular foreign websites and online platforms remained inaccessible. Businesses dependent on international communications, online commerce, and digital financial transactions faced significant disruptions. Students, freelancers, journalists, and technology workers were among those most affected, with many struggling to maintain contact with clients, educational institutions, and international services.
Even before the latest restrictions, internet access in Iran had long been tightly controlled through extensive censorship policies that block many Western social media platforms, messaging services, and news websites. Authorities have increasingly promoted the use of a state-supported domestic intranet system designed to provide local online services independently from the wider global internet.
The government’s domestic network has become central to many public services, including banking, administration, and education. During the blackout, schools across Iran continued operating through online learning systems hosted on the country’s internal network, allowing authorities to maintain digital services while restricting access to external platforms.
Digital rights groups have repeatedly criticized Iran’s internet policies, arguing that prolonged shutdowns isolate citizens, damage the economy, and restrict access to information. Business owners and technology experts inside Iran have also warned that repeated disruptions undermine investor confidence and place additional pressure on an economy already facing international sanctions and political instability.
The order to restore internet access may signal an attempt by the Iranian government to ease public frustration after months of restrictions. However, analysts note that authorities are unlikely to abandon broader censorship measures entirely, particularly as tensions in the region remain high and domestic political pressures continue.