Iran appears set to restore internet access after 3-months blackout | Iran International

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Internet access in Iran appeared headed for restoration Monday as President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered a rollback of months-long restrictions and an IRGC-affiliated outlet appeared to fall in line behind the decision after initially questioning its legality.

Earlier in the day, Pezeshkian ordered the Ministry of Communications to restore international internet access to its pre-January status, according to his spokesman.<br>ICT Minister Sattar Hashemi later told Shargh daily that the process of restoring the country’s internet access had begun.<br>The semi-official ISNA news agency reported that the order is expected to be implemented on Tuesday.<br>The shift in tone became apparent after the IRGC-affiliated Fars News agency first questioned whether the administration had the authority to issue such an order, arguing that because the restrictions were imposed by the Supreme National Security Council, only the same body could formally reverse them.<br>Hours later, however, Fars appeared to soften its position in an editorial describing the reopening as a necessary “technical and security” decision that would have happened “sooner or later” as cyber conditions improved.<br>The outlet said the restrictions had originally been imposed to prevent cyber espionage and protect critical infrastructure during wartime conditions and an unprecedented wave of cyberattacks.<br>While acknowledging criticism over the legal process behind the decision, Fars dismissed efforts to turn the issue into a political dispute and accused some reformist media outlets of exploiting the shutdown to deepen internal divisions during what it described as a “full-scale war.”<br>The president’s order followed the fourth meeting of the Special Task Force on Cyberspace Management, which ended with nine votes in favor and three against reconnecting Iran to the global internet, according to reports.<br>Peyman Jebelli, head of Iran’s state broadcaster, and Mohammad-Amin Aghamiri, secretary of the Supreme Council of Cyberspace, were among the strongest opponents of restoring international internet access, Faraz reported citing informed sources.<br>According to Faraz, both men remained firmly opposed to reconnecting the country to the global internet until the end of the meeting.<br>The report said Aghamiri’s position was particularly notable because the secretary of the Supreme Council of Cyberspace is appointed by the president. Although Aghamiri was first appointed under the previous administration, Pezeshkian later retained him in the post.<br>Faraz said Aghamiri’s opposition had placed him at odds with the government at a time when Pezeshkian has publicly identified restoring internet access as one of his priorities.

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The disruptions have entered their 13th consecutive week, blocking or severely degrading access to many global online services that freelancers, software developers and content creators rely on to compete internationally, Shargh reported on Monday.<br>While AI tools have dramatically reduced the cost of launching new businesses worldwide, the report argued that internet restrictions inside Iran are preventing local entrepreneurs from benefiting from the shift.

“Internet that was supposed to become the launch platform for a new generation of entrepreneurs has now turned into the biggest obstacle to establishing, growing and developing a new business,” the newspaper wrote.<br>Many young Iranians who could previously build businesses with little more than a laptop and free AI software are now struggling to access even basic online services because of filtering, unstable connections and rising infrastructure costs, Shargh said.<br>The report estimated direct economic losses from the disruption at more than 3000 trillion rials, roughly $4 billion, over a 60-day period. Daily losses for internet-dependent businesses were estimated at between $30 million and $40 million.<br>Tiered internet deepens pressure<br>The emergence of “internet pro” or tiered internet access has widened inequalities inside Iran’s digital economy by giving certain users and organizations access to higher-quality connections at sharply higher prices, added Shargh.

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Silhouette of a man using a mobile phone during a nighttime internet blackout in Iran amid ongoing restrictions and connectivity disruptions.Large-volume internet packages for preferred users are being sold for more than 20 million rials (around $12), the newspaper reported, adding that the model has significantly increased operating costs for small software teams already struggling...