Iran has begun restoring internet

What's happened

Iran has ordered a reopening of international internet access after an almost 90-day nationwide blackout that began in January and deepened after U.S. and Israeli strikes in late February. Fixed broadband users are reporting partial reconnection while mobile service remains unstable; many platforms still require VPNs and businesses say losses are severe.

What's behind the headline?

What is happening now

• Iran has issued an executive order to reconnect to the global internet and officials are implementing partial restoration for fixed broadband while mobile access remains limited.
• Connectivity is unstable: monitoring groups report traffic increases but caution that full, nationwide restoration will take hours, days or weeks and that some platforms (WhatsApp, X) remain inaccessible without VPNs.

Who is driving the change

• The presidential office and a newly formed Cyberspace Regulation Committee are pushing restoration; the Supreme National Security Council retains final authority and can continue to restrict access.

Why this matters

• The blackout has destroyed online revenue streams: many small businesses that sold via Instagram and Telegram have reported catastrophic losses and mounting debts.
• Information flow is being restored slowly; citizens will continue to rely on VPNs and alternate channels while authorities maintain controls.

Likely trajectory

• Restoration will proceed unevenly: urban fixed-line users will regain broader access first, provinces and mobile subscribers will lag.
• Governments will continue to use targeted restrictions: full, unrestricted access will not return quickly because security and political controls are staying in place.

Consequences for readers

• Iranians will resume communications and commerce but businesses will need months to recover lost customers and revenue.
• International observers and rights groups will pressure Tehran over prior civilian harm and transparency; that pressure will increase if restoration is slow or partial.

How we got here

Authorities first imposed wide restrictions from Jan. 8 during anti-government protests, briefly eased access, then reimposed a near-total shutdown after strikes on Feb. 28. The country has been reliant on a domestic intranet for services while the blackout has damaged small businesses and online commerce.

Our analysis

Reuters reports that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has issued an order to reopen international internet access and quotes Communications Minister Seyyid Sattar Hashemi saying "the Iranian people deserve free communication, a bright future, and a dynamic economy." (Reuters, May 27). The New York Times has documented citizens' reaction and economic damage, noting the blackout began after the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Feb. 28 and pushed the population into a near-total information blackout that cost the economy heavily (Erika Solomon, NYT, May 27). Netblocks and other monitors are cited across outlets (New Arab, France 24, NYT) showing a "partial restoration" on day 88 while warning access remains unstable and regional roll-out is uneven (Netblocks, May 26–27). The New Arab and France 24 report that fixed broadband users are seeing restored access while mobile networks remain cut and VPNs remain necessary for many services (May 26). The Independent and The Times of Israel provide additional detail on the institutional fight over restoration: the Special Headquarters for Organising and Governing the Country's Cyberspace was formed on May 12 and has been positioned to manage reopening, but judicial and security agencies retain overriding authority (The Independent, May 26; Times of Israel, May 26). These sources together show officials claiming a decree to reopen, monitors observing only partial, unstable restoration, and businesses and rights groups describing heavy economic and humanitarian costs.

Go deeper

• Which internet services are working now and which still need a VPN?
• How long will small businesses take to recover lost customers and income?
• Will mobile networks be restored at the same pace as home broadband?

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