Iran’s government approved the restoration of nationwide internet access after a shutdown imposed three months earlier amid joint US-Israeli attacks. The decision followed repeated meetings of a government committee responsible for cyberspace regulation and came after sustained criticism of the blackout’s effects on civilians.
Fars news agency reported that the committee voted nine to three in favor of reconnecting the country. The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology was tasked with putting the decision into effect after final approval from President Masoud Pezeshkian. Officials said further details about implementation would be announced later, leaving the pace and completeness of the restoration unclear at the time of the decision.
The cutoff had severely constrained ordinary communications and access to information. Many people were unable to contact relatives living elsewhere, while workers dependent on reliable internet connections faced difficulty earning a living during an already worsening economic crisis. Some Iranians used virtual private networks to reach online services, but access remained disrupted across broad parts of the country.
The latest restrictions followed an earlier internet shutdown during protests in January. Connectivity was restored and then cut again after Israel and the United States struck Iran on February 28. The Supreme National Security Council was identified as the body that ordered the three-month cutoff, while the government had publicly said it wanted service restored and was not responsible for maintaining the outage.
The Cyberspace Regulation Committee was formed in mid-May after pressure from hardline conservatives. Mohammad Reza Aref was appointed chairman, with Communications Minister Sattar Hashemi serving as secretary. Its membership also included three university professors specializing in cyberspace and internet communications. Iranian media had anticipated action at an earlier meeting, but the question of which institutions wanted the restrictions to continue reportedly delayed a resolution.
Rights groups argued that the blackout carried consequences beyond lost connectivity. Human Rights Watch said shutting networks during conflict could prevent people from finding lifesaving information about strikes and medical care. It also warned that prolonged separation from loved ones could cause serious psychological harm.
The approval therefore marked a significant policy reversal, but the immediate public impact depended on technical implementation by the communications ministry. The committee’s vote authorized restoration; it did not by itself establish when normal access would return everywhere or whether all previously blocked services would become available. Technical restoration was therefore the next measurable step, following a political process shaped by conflict, hardline pressure, economic strain and growing demands for civilian access. nationwide.
