Iran’s President Orders Reopening of International Internet Access After Nearly 90-Day Blackout
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has reportedly ordered the reopening of international internet access across Iran after an extended nationwide blackout that lasted nearly three months, according to Iranian state media and multiple international reports. The move comes after widespread criticism over the country’s severe digital restrictions imposed during anti-government unrest and amid escalating military tensions involving the United States and Israel.
The blackout, which began on January 8, 2026, dramatically reduced Iran’s connectivity to the global internet. Monitoring group NetBlocks stated that internet activity in the country fell to near-zero levels at different stages, leaving millions of Iranians unable to access global platforms, communication services, international news, and financial tools. Authorities had justified the restrictions on grounds of “national security” during protests and wartime instability.
Reports indicate that only a limited number of government-approved users and citizens with expensive advanced VPN systems were able to bypass the shutdown during the blackout period. Iranian authorities simultaneously promoted the use of the country’s heavily monitored domestic intranet system, which critics say increased state surveillance and information control.
State-linked media outlets said the decision to restore access followed a high-level meeting involving Iran’s Cyber Space Steering and Organising Headquarters. According to reports, the proposal to reconnect Iran to the global web passed with majority support among senior officials. However, authorities have not yet clarified the exact mechanism or timeline for full restoration of unrestricted internet access nationwide.
The internet shutdown had triggered strong international criticism from human rights organizations and global digital freedom groups. Earlier this year, the United Nations Human Rights Council condemned Iran’s prolonged internet blackout, calling it a violation of international human rights standards and warning that such restrictions obstruct access to information and conceal human rights abuses.
The reopening order is being viewed as a significant political and social development inside Iran. Analysts believe the move may help reduce public anger, revive economic activity, and restore communication channels for businesses, students, journalists, and ordinary citizens who had been isolated from the global internet ecosystem for weeks. At the same time, observers caution that Iran is unlikely to completely abandon its broader strategy of digital control and censorship.
