Iran Restores Internet Access After Prolonged Shutdown

Organizations tracking online traffic reported an increase in activity on Tuesday as Iranians regained access to the global internet following a government-imposed shutdown.

Internet Blackout Lifted

Iran began restoring internet access for tens of millions of Iranians, as confirmed by senior officials on Tuesday. This action ended a blackout that had been imposed after military strikes by the United States and Israel on February 28. Iran’s first vice president, Mohammad Reza Aref, shared via social media that the move aligns with the president’s mission to enable regulated internet access.

“In line with the president’s mission and in fulfillment of the government’s promise, the first step toward free and regulated access to cyberspace has been taken.” – Mohammad Reza Aref

NetBlocks, a group monitoring the internet, noted a “partial restoration” of connectivity in Iran after 88 days, marking it as the longest modern nationwide internet shutdown.

Impact on Iranians

Iranians expressed on social media and in messages to The New York Times their ability to reconnect to the internet after more than 12 weeks. The government had cited national security for imposing the shutdown, while activists saw it as a tool to control the populace during wartime. Internet traffic observed on Tuesday showed activity through both fixed and mobile lines, according to cybersecurity expert Amir Rashidi.

“What we are seeing now is an increase in traffic from Iran. Some providers have come back online, but it is still too early to say exactly what will happen.” – Amir Rashidi

Mr. Rashidi also referenced a similar shutdown in January during mass protests, where even after partial connectivity restoration, traffic returned to only half of its usual levels.

Economic Consequences

The prolonged shutdown worsened an already fragile economy. Iran’s tech sector faced significant setbacks, with companies closing and layoffs increasing. Individuals relying on online platforms to sell or advertise products found it challenging to generate income.