Iran’s president orders reopening of international internet access, state media reports

A person holds a phone after activating a virtual private network (VPN) service to access the internet while in Tehran on September 11, 2023. (ATTA KENARE / AFP)
A person holds a phone after activating a virtual private network (VPN) service to access the internet while in Tehran on September 11, 2023. (ATTA KENARE / AFP)

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has issued an order to reopen international internet access, Iranian state media reports, citing an official after a near-90-day blackout in the wake of the war against the US and Israel.

The report cites the head of public relations at Iran’s Communications Ministry.

The mechanism for how and when Iran would reconnect to the global web following the decision was unknown.

Most Iranians have been unable ‌to access the World Wide Web for 87 days according to the internet observatory NetBlocks, with only a few citizens having access to expensive and advanced VPNs that circumvent the restrictions.

Authorities initially imposed an internet blackout from January 8 in response to nationwide anti-government protests, with connections gradually getting back to normal in February, before a new blackout was initiated following the start of US and Israeli strikes against Iran on February 28.

In normal ​times, access to the global internet remains heavily restricted via censorship of many websites, while authorities are increasingly ​relying on an intranet to provide connected services without relying on the Web, notably for schools that are currently following ‌an ⁠online curriculum.

Most Popular
If you’d like to comment, join
The Times of Israel Community.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.