Iran has started to lift its internet blockade after 88 days, marking the longest internet blackout in modern history. Mohammad Reza Aref, Iran's first vice president, announced on Tuesday via a post on X that the country would begin reopening the internet following a request from President Masoud Pezeshkian. NetBlocks, an internet monitoring organization, confirmed the partial restoration of internet access after 2,093 hours of near-total isolation from international networks.
Aref stated, "In line with the esteemed President’s mission and in fulfillment of the government’s promise, the first step toward free and regulated access to cyberspace has been taken." He added that the reopening would streamline smart services and fulfill public demands.
The internet was initially shut down on February 28 as part of Operation Epic Fury, aimed at controlling information during the war. This blackout also followed an earlier shutdown in January, which was implemented to suppress protests across Iran. While the internet shutdown helped limit dissent, it severely impacted Iranian trade and commerce, exacerbating the already struggling economy.
The decision to partially lift the blockade may indicate Tehran's increasing confidence in its stability and suggests a potential nearing of a deal to end the conflict with the United States and Israel. However, full internet access is not expected to be restored soon, as connectivity levels have not returned to pre-shutdown standards since the previous blackout in January.