Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has reportedly ordered the restoration of international internet access across Iran after nearly three months of severe restrictions that effectively disconnected much of the country from the global internet. The decision, confirmed through Iranian state-linked media outlets on Monday, marks a potentially significant shift after one of the longest and most extensive internet shutdowns in the country’s modern history.
According to reports from Mehr News Agency, Pezeshkian approved a formal plan to restore internet connectivity following a high-level meeting involving Iran’s Cyber Space Steering and Organising Headquarters. Officials from Iran’s Communications Ministry also reportedly confirmed the presidential directive.
Another Iranian outlet, Fars News Agency, stated that the proposal to reopen internet access passed during Monday’s meeting with nine votes in favour and three votes against. The agency, which is associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, indicated that authorities had finally agreed to begin easing the restrictions after months of widespread criticism and economic disruption.
Iran first introduced heavy internet restrictions on January 8 following nationwide anti-government protests triggered by worsening economic conditions, political tensions, and growing public frustration. The restrictions were briefly relaxed on January 23, but authorities reinstated them with even greater severity on February 28 — the same day that the United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran amid escalating regional tensions.
Internet monitoring organisation NetBlocks reported that connectivity levels across Iran dropped dramatically during the shutdown period, operating at only between 1 per cent and 2 per cent of normal national connectivity for weeks. Before the restrictions, connectivity levels had typically remained between 9 per cent and 100 per cent.
According to NetBlocks, Iran endured a near-total internet blackout for more than 87 days, making it one of the most severe internet disruptions ever recorded in a modern nation-state. The organisation later described the shutdown as “the most severe, by extent and duration, that we’ve tracked in the history of modern internet connectivity.”
For ordinary Iranians, the restrictions disrupted almost every aspect of daily life. Families struggled to contact relatives and friends during periods of military tension and political unrest. Access to independent news sources and international information became extremely limited at a time when protests, economic instability, and regional conflict dominated public concern.
The shutdown also caused major economic damage, particularly within Iran’s already fragile digital economy. Even before the blackout, the Iranian government maintained strict control over internet access by blocking several major international platforms. Services such as Instagram, WhatsApp, and Telegram were already restricted, forcing many users to rely on virtual private networks, or VPNs, to access global communication platforms.
However, the latest restrictions went far beyond ordinary censorship. Large sections of Iran’s digital economy effectively collapsed under the prolonged shutdown.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, more than one million people may have lost employment opportunities or income because of the combined impact of war-related tensions, anti-government protests, and internet restrictions.
Small businesses that depended heavily on social media advertising and online communication were among the hardest hit. Freelancers working with international clients reportedly lost contracts almost overnight because they could no longer communicate with overseas companies or transfer digital work. Technology startups experienced severe disruptions, while software developers and online service providers saw projects delayed, cancelled, or abandoned entirely.
As the restrictions intensified, unrestricted internet access increasingly became a privilege available only to a limited number of people. Iranian authorities reportedly introduced a restricted paid system known as “Internet Pro,” which offered selected individuals less-filtered internet access through special white SIM cards.
Applicants seeking access reportedly had to submit personal identification documents and provide official explanations regarding why they required broader internet connectivity. Critics argued that the system created a form of digital inequality where unrestricted access became dependent on government approval and financial capability.
At the same time, Starlink, the satellite-based internet network operated by SpaceX, reportedly expanded quietly inside Iran. Thousands of Starlink terminals were allegedly smuggled into the country following earlier crackdowns, enabling some Iranians to bypass government restrictions and reconnect to the global internet independently.
However, the use of Starlink remains illegal under Iranian law. Reports indicated that authorities conducted searches of homes and rooftops in efforts to identify and confiscate illegal satellite terminals from individuals accused of using the service.
Despite President Pezeshkian’s latest order, Iranian authorities have not yet clarified exactly when full nationwide internet access will be restored or whether restrictions on major international social media platforms and websites will continue in some form.
As a result, while the announcement has raised hopes among millions of Iranians who have endured months of isolation and economic hardship, uncertainty remains regarding how extensive the restoration will actually be and whether the government intends to permanently ease its broader system of online censorship and digital control.
