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Iranians reconnect after 88-day internet shutdown

From Kathmandu Post · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Iranians are reconnecting to the global internet after a nearly 90-day shutdown imposed by authorities during recent regional conflict.
  • President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered the reopening of international internet access, though the exact timing and method remain unclear.
  • The prolonged blackout severely impacted businesses reliant on social media and left many Iranians feeling isolated and economically damaged.

Iranians expressed profound relief and joy as social media platforms flickered back to life after an 88-day internet shutdown. The blackout, imposed by authorities amid regional conflict, had left the population largely isolated in a country already grappling with restricted internet access.

I’ve never been so happy in my life to see Telegram notifications.

· Kian GalvaniAn engineering student expressing joy at the return of social media.

President Masoud Pezeshkian issued an order to restore international internet access, according to state media. The report cited an official from Iran’s Communications Ministry. However, details on how and when the country would fully reconnect to the global web remained unknown. Authorities initially imposed the blackout on January 8 as part of a crackdown on nationwide protests, with connections gradually restored before a new shutdown began following strikes against Iran.

The longest internet blackout in the history of the world has ended, greetings after 88 days

· Alireza JafarzadehAn Iranian editor posting on his Instagram account.

Communications and Information Technology Minister Seyyid Sattar Hashemi stated that "the Iranian people deserve free communication, a bright future, and a dynamic economy." He added that the president's commitment to reopening the internet signals "rationality and standing with the people."

the Iranian people deserve free communication, a bright future, and a dynamic economy.

· Seyyid Sattar HashemiIranian Communications and Information Technology Minister speaking about the importance of communication.

Businesses heavily reliant on social media for operations suffered immensely. Computer programmer Keyumars, who asked to be identified only by his first name, told Reuters that many small businesses lost everything and must now rebuild from scratch while burdened by debt and lost customers. Internet monitoring group NetBlocks noted that restoration could take days or weeks, with connectivity remaining unstable and platforms like WhatsApp still inaccessible without a VPN. Director Alp Toker highlighted the broader impact, including business suffering, difficulty for people to connect with loved ones, and a sense of being left behind as the world moves on.

The president’s commitment to the reopening of the internet and restoring communication stability is a clear sign of rationality and standing with the people

· Seyyid Sattar HashemiIranian Communications and Information Technology Minister commenting on President Pezeshkian's order.
About this summary

Originally published by Kathmandu Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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