Organizations monitoring online traffic reported an increase in activity on Tuesday as Iranians began reconnecting to the global internet. This followed a lengthy government-imposed shutdown.
Iran started restoring internet access for millions, announced a senior official. This move came after the United States and Israel launched military strikes on Iran on February 28.
Mohammad Reza Aref, Iran’s first vice president, stated on social media, “In line with the president’s mission and fulfilling the government’s promise, the first step toward free and regulated internet access has been taken.” NetBlocks, an internet monitoring group, confirmed a “partial restoration to internet connectivity” after 88 days. This marked the longest nationwide internet shutdown in modern times.
Iranians reported on social media and to The New York Times that they could access the global internet after being disconnected for over 12 weeks. The Iranian government had claimed the shutdown was due to national security reasons, though activists argued it aimed to suppress communication and control the population during the conflict.
Internet traffic from Iran on Tuesday showed signs of activity from both fixed and mobile lines, noted Amir Rashidi, a cybersecurity expert at Miaan, a digital rights organization. “There is an increase in traffic from Iran,” Rashidi indicated in a message. “Some providers are back online, but it is too early to determine the full picture.”
He referenced another shutdown in January during mass protests, where connectivity returned to only about 50% of normal levels despite some restoration.
The extensive shutdown has exacerbated economic difficulties in an already destabilized nation. Iran’s tech sector was significantly impacted, with companies shuttered and employees laid off. Additionally, Iranians engaged in online sales and advertising faced challenges in sustaining their income during the blackout.
Yeganeh Torbati reports on Iran for The Times.