Iran has partially restored global internet access, ending an 88-day blackout, the longest in the country's history. The shutdown, which began during war with the United States and Israel and during brutally suppressed protests in January, left millions of citizens largely cut off from international networks and caused thousands of people to lose their jobs.
While internet monitors confirmed an uptick in activity on Tuesday, the restoration remains incomplete. Home broadband connections have resumed in some areas, but mobile internet remains largely blocked, forcing many Iranians to continue relying on VPNs to access social media and international websites. Connectivity is expected to remain restricted even after the blackout is officially lifted.
The partial easing comes as diplomatic talks between Tehran and the U.S. gather pace. Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref described the move as the first step toward free and regulated access to cyberspace. However, legal complications have emerged; while President Pezeshkian ordered the international internet to be reopened, an Iranian court suspended the order before it could fully take effect.
Consequently, it remains unclear whether technical or political issues are delaying the full end of the clampdown. This has left Iranians in a state of legal and digital limbo as monitors observe the slow rollout of services.