Iran has begun gradually reconnecting to the internet after a multi-month blackout that severed most international communications [1].
The restoration of service follows a period of extreme digital isolation intended to control information flow during the country's involvement in a war with the U.S. and Israel [1], [3].
President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered the reopening of international internet access on May 25, 2026 [2]. Partial access began returning to users across the Islamic Republic, including major urban centers like Tehran, on Tuesday, May 26, 2026 [1], [2].
Reports on the exact duration of the outage vary. Some sources describe the period as a three-month blackout [1], while NetBlocks reported the outage lasted 87 days [3].
Despite the order to reopen, the restoration remains limited. Many restrictions are still in place, and several data centers continue to experience outages [1]. The government has not yet fully reinstated open access for the general population [2].
Concurrent with the gradual reconnection, Iran's Intelligence Ministry issued warnings to citizens. The ministry said that individuals must not collaborate with foreign media, accusing such entities of engaging in espionage [1], [3].
“Iran is gradually reconnecting to the internet after a multi‑month blackout”
The phased return of internet services suggests a strategic shift by the Iranian government to balance national security concerns with the economic and social necessity of connectivity. By maintaining limited access and warning against foreign media, the state aims to prevent the unrest often associated with the sudden influx of external information while slowly easing the digital blockade imposed during the conflict.
