Iran restores global internet after months of restrictions

Restoration Order

Iran has lifted restrictions on global internet connectivity following a directive from President Masoud Pezeshkian, restoring access to international websites and broadband services that had been severely limited since nationwide protests erupted in January and were subsequently tightened during two months of war with the US and Israel, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency on Tuesday. Tasnim reported that fixed broadband services including FTTH, VDSL and ADSL as well as mobile internet are now available without restrictions, returning connectivity to conditions that existed prior to January 2026.

Protests and Conflict

Authorities first imposed a near-total internet blackout on January 8 and 9 to suppress demonstrations that had escalated in late December following a sharp depreciation of the Iranian rial against the US dollar, and later tightened restrictions after the US and Israel launched military attacks on February 28. While domestic banking systems and local platforms remained operational throughout the unrest and subsequent conflict, global access remained largely dependent on Virtual Private Networks, severely affecting businesses and online commerce.

Continued Platform Bans

Despite the restoration of general internet access, major global platforms including YouTube and X remain blocked within the country, with many users continuing to rely on VPN services to reach them. Iranian officials said 3,117 people were killed in the January protests, while human rights organizations estimated the death toll at up to 7,000, as authorities accused Washington and Tel Aviv of exploiting the unrest to justify foreign interference.