Iran considering ‘gradually’ restoring internet access after shutdown amid protests

Iranian authorities say they are considering “gradually” restoring internet access after imposing an unprecedented communications shutdown 10 days ago, which rights groups say masked a violent crackdown that killed thousands during mass nationwide protests.

Demonstrations sparked in late December by anger over economic hardship exploded into anti-regime protests widely seen as the biggest challenge to the Iranian leadership in years.

The rallies subsided after a crackdown that rights groups call a “massacre” carried out by security forces under the cover of a communications blackout that started on January 8 as the protests grew in size and intensity.

Government officials say calm has been restored, with schools reopening today — Iran’s weekend falling on Thursday and Friday — after a week of closure.

Late yesterday, the Tasnim news agency reported “the relevant authorities announced that internet access would also be gradually restored,” but gave no further details.

Citing an unnamed “informed source,” the agency said local messaging applications “will soon be activated” on Iran’s domestic intranet.

This morning, AFP was able to connect to the internet from its Tehran office, though the vast majority of internet providers and mobile internet remain cut.

Outgoing international calls have been possible since Tuesday, and text messaging was restored yesterday morning.

For days, text messages and international phone calls — and at times even local calls — were cut off.

Iran has since been relying on its intranet, which has supported local media websites, ride-hailing apps, delivery service and banking platforms. Despite the restrictions, information had still filtered out, with reports of atrocities emerging, according to rights groups.

Amnesty International says it has verified dozens of videos and accounts in recent days.

They show “that security forces have been relentlessly firing at protesters from the streets and from elevated positions” and that hospitals had been “overwhelmed with the injured” in a “massacre of protesters,” says Amnesty’s Iran researcher Raha Bahreini in a video posted online.