Iran has started to restore some internet connectivity after a government-imposed blackout that lasted nearly three months, web monitoring groups report. The partial restoration comes amid ongoing political disputes and conflict following attacks by Israel and the United States in late February.
What happened
Internet service in Iran, which has been largely offline since February 28, started showing signs of partial restoration on Tuesday, according to experts monitoring global network traffic. The blackout began after the Iranian government ordered a shutdown in response to airstrikes by Israel and the U.S. targeting the country. The current outage follows an earlier shutdown that enforced near-complete disconnection during widespread protests in January 2026.
Researchers from Kentik, NetBlocks, and Cloudflare documented early signs of reconnection in the afternoon local time, although the restored access is limited and below levels seen before the conflict. Amir Rashidi, a cybersecurity expert with the Miaan Group, noted that while some providers have resumed service, the overall traffic remains significantly reduced compared to December 2025 baseline levels.
Doug Madory, Kentik’s director of internet analysis, observed that most mobile networks remain largely offline, with limited recovery mainly among fixed-line providers such as the Telecommunication Company of Iran’s fiber-optic service near Tehran.
The partial reopening follows an order reportedly issued by the Special Headquarters for Organizing and Governing the Country’s Cyberspace, a group formed by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. However, this decision faced a legal challenge in Iran’s High Court, though Iran’s communications minister confirmed that restoration would proceed within 24 hours per the president’s directive.
Why it matters
Iran’s extended internet blackout has cut millions of citizens off from the global internet, hindering communication, damaging the local economy, and restricting news flow amid conflict. The partial restoration may indicate a shift in government policy or political power struggles but does not guarantee a full return to unrestricted connectivity.
Digital access in Iran remains under tight control, with the government continuing to develop a national intranet and domestic surveillance technologies aimed at monitoring and censoring online activity. Experts warn that even after restoration, Iran’s internet will likely remain subject to heavy censorship and restrictions.
The current situation also correlates with ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran aimed at resolving the conflict. The degree of internet access restoration may hinge on political and diplomatic developments.
Background
Internet shutdowns in Iran have become a recurring tool for the government to suppress dissent and control information. In January 2026, the regime imposed a nationwide blackout during massive protests triggered by economic grievances, reportedly killing thousands of protesters. The shutdown was lifted partially in February before the current outage coincided with the beginning of hostilities involving Israel and the U.S.
Over the past decade, Iran has invested heavily in creating a censored domestic network infrastructure that substitutes for the global internet, incorporating state-controlled messaging apps, search engines, and other digital services embedded with surveillance capabilities.
This blackout marks one of the longest and most severe internet shutdowns tied to geopolitical conflict and political instability, reflecting the regime’s continuing prioritization of information control amid crisis.
Sources
This article is based on reporting and publicly available information from the following source:
Read more World News stories on Goka World News.