Iran’s Internet Restoration After Prolonged Shutdown

Organizations monitoring online traffic noted an increase in activity on Tuesday as Iranians reconnected to the global internet. The government had imposed a shutdown following military strikes by the United States and Israel.

On February 28, Iran began restoring internet access to tens of millions after a blackout, according to a senior official. Iran’s first vice president, Mohammad Reza Aref, announced on social media that the government took the initial step towards free and regulated access to cyberspace.

NetBlocks, a prominent internet monitoring group, confirmed a “partial restoration of internet connectivity” in Iran after 88 days. This duration marked it as the longest nationwide internet shutdown in recent history. Iranians expressed on social media and through messages to The New York Times that they could access the global internet after more than 12 weeks of disconnection.

The Iranian government claimed national security reasons for the shutdown. However, activists argued the measure aimed to suppress communication and help control the population amid conflict. Internet traffic on Tuesday originated from both fixed and mobile lines, as confirmed by Amir Rashidi, a cybersecurity expert with Miaan, a digital rights group focused on Iran.

“An increase in traffic from Iran is observed,” Rashidi stated in a message. He noted that while some internet providers have resumed service, the full scope of connectivity remains uncertain. Rashidi also mentioned a previous shutdown in January during mass protests where only about 50 percent of the internet traffic returned.

The prolonged shutdown has further strained an economy destabilized by ongoing conflict. Iran’s tech sector faced significant setbacks, with companies forced to close and lay off employees. Moreover, Iranian entrepreneurs who relied on online platforms for sales or advertisements struggled to maintain their livelihoods.