Iran orders return of internet access after 87 days of blockade

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has issued an order to reopen access to the international internet, Iranian state media reported on Monday (25), citing an official following a nearly 90-day blackout following the war against the US and Israel.

The report cited the head of public relations at Iran's Ministry of Communications.

The mechanism of how and when Iran would reconnect to the global network after the decision is unclear.

Most Iranians have been unable to access the global internet for 87 days, according to internet observatory NetBlocks on Monday, with only a few citizens having access to expensive, advanced VPNs that bypass restrictions.

Authorities initially imposed an internet blackout from January 8 in response to nationwide anti-government protests, with connections gradually returning to normal in February before a new blackout was initiated following the start of US and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28.

In normal times, access to the global internet remains heavily restricted through the censorship of many websites, while authorities increasingly turn to an intranet to provide connected services without relying on the worldwide web, especially for schools, which currently adopt an online curriculum.

Source: CNN