Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has mandated the restoration of international internet access, as reported by state media on Monday. This directive comes after a nearly 90-day period of restricted online access, which followed the outbreak of conflict against the U.S. and Israel.
The announcement, citing the head of public relations at Iran’s Communications Ministry, did not specify the precise methods or timeline for re-establishing Iran’s connection to the global internet.
For 87 days, most Iranian citizens have been cut off from the worldwide web, according to Monday’s internet observatory NetBlocks report. Only a limited number of individuals maintained access through costly and sophisticated VPN services capable of bypassing the imposed restrictions.
A nationwide internet blackout was initially enforced by authorities on January 8 in response to anti-government demonstrations. While connections gradually normalized in February, a new period of disconnection began on February 28, coinciding with the commencement of U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran.
Even during regular periods, access to the global internet in Iran faces severe limitations due to extensive website censorship. Furthermore, authorities are increasingly developing an intranet system to deliver online services independently of the worldwide web, particularly for educational institutions currently utilizing an online curriculum.
