Iran Resumes Internet Access After Longest Shutdown

Organizations that track online traffic reported an increase in activity on Tuesday. This followed Iran’s re-connection to the global internet after a government-imposed shutdown.

Iran resumed internet access for millions of citizens, announced by a senior official on Tuesday. The shutdown was enacted following military strikes by the United States and Israel on February 28.

Mohammad Reza Aref, Iran’s first vice president, announced on social media: “In line with the president’s mission and fulfilling the government’s promise, the first step toward free and regulated access to cyberspace has been taken.”

NetBlocks, an internet monitoring organization, noted a “partial restoration to internet connectivity” across Iran after 88 days. They described it as “the longest nationwide internet shutdown in modern history.”

Iranians shared on social media and conveyed to The New York Times that they could connect to the global internet after more than 12 weeks without access. While the Iranian government cited national security for the blackout, activists argued that it aimed to restrict communication and help the government control the population during the conflict.

Internet traffic flowing from Iran on Tuesday included both fixed and mobile lines. Amir Rashidi, a cybersecurity expert with Miaan, a digital rights group, confirmed this increase on social media. He remarked, “What we are seeing now is an increase in traffic from Iran.” In a separate message, Rashidi noted, “Some providers have come back online, but it is still too early to say exactly what will happen.”

Rashidi highlighted a previous internet shutdown in January during mass protests, where partial connectivity restored only led to 50% of prior traffic levels. The extended blackout has weakened a struggling economy, already impacted by ongoing conflicts. Iran’s technology sector faced severe challenges, with companies closing and laying off employees. Iranians engaged in online sales or advertisements dealt with months of reduced income.

Yeganeh Torbati serves as The Times’ correspondent for Iran.