Tehran eases digital siege as protests, war pressure and economic collapse shake its authoritarian control.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has reportedly ordered the restoration of international internet access after nearly three months of severe restrictions that cut much of the country off from the global web.
The blackout began on January 8 after nationwide anti-regime protests erupted amid worsening economic conditions. Restrictions were partially eased later in January, but were reimposed with far greater intensity on February 28, the same day the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran.
Internet monitoring group NetBlocks reported that connectivity across Iran fell to just 1 to 2 percent of normal levels for weeks, compared with near-normal access before the shutdown. The group described the blackout as one of the most severe and prolonged disruptions in modern internet history.
Iranian state-linked outlets reported that Pezeshkian approved the restoration plan after a high-level meeting of the country’s cyberspace authorities. Fars News Agency said the decision passed with nine votes in favor and three against.
The restrictions devastated daily life. Families struggled to contact loved ones during military escalation, businesses lost access to customers, freelancers were cut off from clients and online workers saw projects collapse. The blackout also blocked independent information while protests and strikes shook the country.
Iran’s digital economy was especially damaged. Small businesses dependent on Instagram, WhatsApp and Telegram were paralyzed, while expensive VPNs and restricted paid access systems became the only option for some users.
The blackout also pushed more Iranians toward illegal Starlink terminals smuggled into the country, despite regime efforts to track and punish users.
Although Tehran now claims internet access will be restored, it remains unclear when full connectivity will return or whether foreign platforms will remain blocked. The episode exposed the regime’s fear of its own people and the pressure building inside Iran.
