After three months of severe restrictions, Iranian authorities have partially restored internet access,a move that follows country’s unprecedented blackout amid ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel. While the government announced a return to pre-war internet levels,the reality for most citizens remains far from normal.
Last week’s decision ended a staggering 2,000 hours of near-total internet shutdown, marking the longest nationwide blackout recorded globally. However, local reports indicate that many websites remain inaccessible, and popular global platforms such as YouTube, Instagram,and WhatsApp continue to be blocked. The Iranian government has not indicated plans to reinstate these services.
Connectivity issues persist, with mobile and landline services described as slow and unreliable. Users have reported frequent disruptions,with some Google services functioning intermittently. Gamers face significant challenges due to high latency,leading to frustrating delays during gameplay.
The situation has driven many Iranians to seek alternative internet access through a burgeoning black market for virtual private networks (VPNs). Although restoration of some bandwidth has made these connections cheaper,the demand for VPNs has surged, exposing users to potential scams and malware.
Despite limited reopening,the Iranian government maintains complex restrictions that effectively limit full internet access to a select few . Many data centers remain offline,and certain internet protocols,including IPv6 and HTTP/3,are still blocked. Reports suggest that while some foreign IP addresses are accessible,they are subject to stringent limitations, resulting in poor connectivity.
Criticism has mounted against President Masoud Pezeshkian,who campaigned on promises to improve internet access. The reformist newspaper Sazandegi condemned the government's delayed action, while the state-affiliated KhabarOnline noted that the internet's infrastructure suffers under current filtering system. Hardliners within government have also attempted to thwart the reopening, seeking judicial intervention to halt process.
During live interview,government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani faced tough questioning regarding legality of internet restoration efforts, as a court order remains in place that could complicate the situation further.
The Iranian government has yet to clarify its plans for tiered internet access system, which categorizes users based on profession and other criteria. This system includes an “Internet Pro” option,offering slightly less restricted access at a significantly higher cost. A user affiliated with a university reported that their state-issued connection remained active,but the state-run Mobile Communications of Iran had quietly removed advertisements for the “Internet Pro” service .
As frustrations grow, many Iranians have taken to social media to share their experiences during the war, posting videos and updates despite ongoing connectivity issues. One Tehran resident expressed discontent,stating, “What we have right now is not the internet . It’s a return to the previous half-closed condition that is now being sold as an achievement.”
