Iran restores internet access

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has ordered the restoration of international internet access after a nearly 90-day blackout. The blackout, which began on January 8 in response to anti-government protests, was further intensified following military strikes against Iran by the United States and Israel on February 28. Internet observatory NetBlocks reported that most Iranians were unable to access the global web for 87 days, with only a few using expensive VPNs to bypass restrictions. While the order has been issued, the mechanism and timeline for full restoration remain unknown. Iran has a history of strict internet censorship, relying on a domestic intranet for many services, and experts believe broader censorship policies are unlikely to disappear despite this reopening.