Tehran, Iran. Iranians expressed relief as social media access returned after a long internet shutdown imposed by the authorities during the war with the United States and Israel. The blackout had left many isolated in a country where access to the outside world is already restricted by censorship.
Internet access restored
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered international internet access to be reopened, state media reported on Monday, citing an official from Iran’s Communications Ministry. The shutdown had lasted nearly 90 days.
The mechanism and timing of a full reconnection to the global web were not immediately clear.
Reaction from users
Users welcomed the return of access on social media. Kian Galvani, an engineering student, wrote on X: “I’ve never been so happy in my life to see Telegram notifications.”
Alireza Jafarzadeh, an Iranian editor, wrote on Instagram: “The longest internet blackout in the history of the world has ended, greetings after 88 days.”
Reasons for the blackout
Authorities first imposed an internet blackout on January 8 during a crackdown on nationwide anti-government demonstrations. Connections were gradually restored in February before a new blackout was imposed after U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran began on February 28.
Official comments
Iranian Communications and Information Technology Minister Seyyid Sattar Hashemi said on Wednesday that “the Iranian people deserve free communication, a bright future, and a dynamic economy.”
He added, according to state media, that “the president’s commitment to the reopening of the internet and restoring communication stability is a clear sign of rationality and standing with the people.”
Economic impact
Analysts said the decision to end the shutdown was likely driven at least in part by the economic impact of keeping businesses offline.
Thomas Juneau, associate fellow with the Middle East and North Africa programme at Chatham House, said the internet could be shut off again quickly if protests erupted again or if negotiations to end the war collapsed and fighting resumed.
Prolonged shutdowns restrict internet freedoms and hurt businesses that rely heavily on social media, adding pressure to an economy already weakened by the war and long-standing U.S. sanctions.