Internet starts coming back in Iran after months-long blackout

Anadolu via Getty Images

Internet access has started to be restored in Iran after being cut off almost three months ago, the country's first vice-president has said.

"The first step toward free and regulated access to cyberspace has been taken," Mohammad Reza Aref wrote on X on Tuesday.

Internet monitoring groups Netblocks and Kentik reported "partial" restoration around 13:00 GMT, though the latter warned most networks were still down.

The Iranian government cut internet access following the launch of US and Israeli attacks on 28 February. Officials suggested the aim was to prevent surveillance, espionage and cyber-attacks. It is one of the longest-running national internet shutdowns ever recorded worldwide.

A content creator from Tehran told the BBC that he had been able to connect to the internet using his home WiFi on Tuesday.

"The main point is, some of my income will come back," he said.

Netblocks said it was unclear whether the internet return would be sustained, and told the BBC it was consistent with what it had seen when previous blackouts were lifted - where restoration could take hours.

"Access is not universally back to its original state, with some regional variation," said the global internet tracker’s research director Isik Mater on Tuesday.

She added that there were signs of "more extensive filtering" than prior to January - when a similar blackout was imposed during the regime's deadly crackdown on anti-government protests - "including additional restrictions to messaging apps like WhatsApp".

"This means families may still struggle to contact loved ones for the time being."

Mater said: "Historically, each time internet access has been restored after an internet shutdown in Iran it has come back with heavier restrictions and tighter controls."

When the US and Iranian attacks started and internet access was cut off, Iran had only enjoyed full access to the outside world for only about a month following the January shutdown.

Some Iranians have sought to get around the restrictions using methods like expensive virtual private networks and smuggling satellite technology into the country.

After a ceasefire was agreed on 8 April, a so-called "internet pro" scheme was introduced by the Iranian government - a premium tier for businesses and professionals, offering higher-quality access for a fee and subject to identity verification.

While some officials had said the scheme was not part of an official policy and was a temporary measure, it led to backlash and criticism.

One of those who did not take up the offer - a doctor in the central city of Isfahan - told the BBC that she had been able to connect to the internet using her home WiFi on Tuesday.

The network started to come back online as Iran condemned fresh US strikes against it earlier this week, branding them a "gross violation" of the ceasefire.

The US said Iranian missile sites and boats attempting to place mines had been targeted with what it called "self-defence strikes" in southern Iran on Monday.

Additional reporting by Richard Irvine-Brown, BBC Verify