Iran begins restoring internet access after 88-day blackout
Iran begins restoring internet access after an 88-day nationwide blackout following Feb. 28 strikes; partial reconnection restores fixed and mobile networks.
Iran begins restoring internet access on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, government officials and monitoring groups said, ending more than 12 weeks of near-total disconnection that followed military strikes on Feb. 28. The move was framed by authorities as a phased return to “free and regulated” cyberspace, but analysts cautioned that the reconnection is partial and fragile. NetBlocks and digital rights experts reported increased traffic from both fixed and mobile lines while warning that full national restoration has not yet been achieved.
Official announcement and presidential mandate
Iran’s first vice president, Mohammad Reza Aref, said on state-aligned platforms that the restoration was carried out “in line with the esteemed president’s mission” to provide regulated access to the internet. The statement framed the reconnection as fulfillment of a government promise to restore controlled online services to citizens. Officials have emphasized a phased approach, saying providers will be brought back in stages while security oversight remains in place.
Monitoring groups describe partial reconnection
Internet monitoring group NetBlocks reported a “partial restoration to internet connectivity” on Tuesday after what it characterized as the longest nationwide shutdown in modern history. Data from civil society researchers indicated that traffic levels rose noticeably, but remained below pre-shutdown baselines in many locations. Cybersecurity observers said the pattern of return — with some autonomous systems and carriers back online while others stayed offline — points to an incremental, provider-by-provider reopening.
Technical signals and expert warnings
Cybersecurity expert Amir Rashidi of the digital rights group Miaan reported increased traffic from both fixed and mobile networks, suggesting several Internet Service Providers (ISPs) had resumed operations. Rashidi and other analysts cautioned that previous intermittent reopenings, including a shutdown linked to January protests, showed partial returns can stall and fail to reach full capacity. Experts warned that routing changes, throttling and selective filtering could persist, limiting access to international platforms and services even as basic connectivity returns.
Government justification and activist concerns
Iranian authorities have defended the blackout on national security grounds associated with the conflict that followed the military strikes on Feb. 28, 2026. State statements framed the shutdown as a temporary measure to protect infrastructure and public safety, while promising a controlled reopening. Human rights groups and activists, however, argued the blackout was used to suppress communication, restrict reporting and curtail public organisation during a period of heightened tension.
Economic and social consequences
The prolonged outage inflicted further damage on an economy already strained by the conflict and sanctions, analysts said. Iran’s tech sector reported widespread disruption: small and medium enterprises that rely on online marketplaces faced suspended sales, many startups furloughed or laid off staff, and e-commerce sellers reported months without a reliable channel for income. Observers noted that recovery for digital businesses will require not only reconnection but predictable, sustained access to payment and delivery services.
Uncertainty over pace and scope of restoration
While some carriers and regions showed signs of reconnection on May 26, 2026, there is no clear timetable for a full nationwide restoration, industry sources said. Authorities have signalled a calibrated process that could prioritize certain services and providers, leaving open the possibility of further restrictions tied to perceived security needs. Digital rights organisations called for transparent benchmarks and independent monitoring to verify that access is genuinely restored and not selectively limited.
Public reaction on social media and messaging platforms reflected relief among users who reported intermittent success in reaching the global internet after weeks of isolation. Many Iranians used the first hours of reconnection to check on family, resume business activity and share accounts of the blackout’s economic impact. Observers emphasised that the coming days will be decisive in determining whether the restoration marks a durable return to online normalcy or a fragile fluctuation in access.