Iran has set a world record with an internet blackout that has continued since the war began, creating unprecedented digital isolation for the country. According to NetBlocks, the blackout has lasted 87 days at only about 2% of normal levels, making it the longest nationwide internet disconnection in history among countries that have connected to the global network. The only country with longer internet disconnection periods is North Korea, an impoverished closed communist dictatorship that has never connected to the global network. Iran's clerical regime has routinely cut off citizens' internet access whenever it fears a serious challenge to its rule, as seen during the January anti-regime protests when thousands of opponents were massacred. The latest reports indicate that Iran may restore internet access to pre-January levels, though the specific details of this restoration remain under discussion.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has officially ordered the restoration of internet access across the country after a high-level meeting involving the Special Task Force on Cyberspace Management, according to Mehr News Agency citing Iranian media reports. As reported by Fars News Agency, which is linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the decision to restore access passed with nine votes in favour and three against during Monday's meeting. However, IRGC-affiliated Fars News immediately questioned the administration's legal authority, arguing that because the Supreme National Security Council had originally imposed the restrictions, only that body could reverse them. This position underscored the fragmented lines of authority over Iran's internet infrastructure, where security institutions have long held significant sway over civilian communications policy. Among the most vocal opponents inside the task force were Peyman Jebelli, head of Iran's state broadcaster, and Mohammad-Amin Aghamiri, secretary of the Supreme Council of Cyberspace, who reportedly remained firmly opposed to restoring access until the end of the meeting. The latest developments suggest that Iran may restore internet access to pre-January levels, though the specific implementation details are still being worked out.
The internet restrictions have severely harmed small businesses across Iran, with many forced to shut down operations or sell assets to survive. According to The Wall Street Journal, more than a million people are believed to have lost work due to the combined effects of war, protests and internet restrictions. Mahla, a 55-year-old interior designer from Tehran, said she had been forced to sell valuables and gold just to pay her employees without internet access. Mehdi, a 49-year-old accountant from the capital, noted that the employment situation was already bad before and is now even worse, as job listings on websites are not being updated. The blackout has prevented businesses from accessing artificial intelligence tools, Google, and email, making it impossible for them to operate effectively. Iran's communications minister had previously acknowledged the shutdown was costing the economy tens of millions of dollars a day, and Iran's central bank governor had reportedly urged Pezeshkian to restore access as part of broader emergency economic stabilization measures. With the potential restoration to pre-January levels, businesses may regain access to these critical digital tools that have been essential for their operations.
Despite the restrictions, some Iranians have managed to access the internet through VPN services that mask their real location and allow relatively free browsing, though using such services can lead to arrest by authorities. Satellite internet services such as Elon Musk's Starlink have quietly spread inside the country, with thousands of terminals reportedly smuggled into Iran after the government crackdown earlier this year, allowing some people to bypass state restrictions. However, using Starlink remains illegal in Iran, and authorities have reportedly searched homes and rooftops to find users accused of connecting to the service. The Revolutionary Guards, whose influence has grown significantly since the outbreak of the war, are seen as the real power in the regime, making it unclear how much decision-making power President Pezeshkian actually holds. During his 2024 presidential campaign, Pezeshkian repeatedly promised to ease internet filtering and expand Iranians' access to the global web, making connectivity a visible part of his reform-minded platform.
Meanwhile, the US and Iran are engaged in efforts to resolve differences over the wording related to Tehran's nuclear programme and the lifting of sanctions for the peace deal aimed at finalising a solution to the hostilities in West Asia, according to CNN citing officials familiar with the matter. According to CNN, citing US officials, the disagreements over 'language on Iran's nuclear program and the lifting of sanctions' have slowed the finalisation of a broader understanding to finalise the deal between Tehran and Washington, though there is growing optimism that the gaps could be bridged soon.
