Iranian government says 88-day internet blackout to end after January protests

An Iranian government announcement on Tuesday stated that an 88-day internet blackout would end, but internet monitors reported no immediate change in access. It remained unclear whether technical or political issues were delaying the restoration. The blackout, the longest in Iran’s history, began during protests in January.

Iranian officials cited the return of Gmail inside the country as an early sign that access was being restored. Communications minister Sattar Hashemi said the process would be gradual. He stated that restrictions had caused significant damage to the digital economy, online businesses, and service industries.

One estimate indicated that as many as 5 million jobs in Iran depend on internet access. A survey by the Tehran Electronics Association of more than 900 companies found that loss of access to WhatsApp, Telegram, and Instagram eliminated 75 percent of their communication channels.

More than 223,000 people applied for government insurance since the start of the war, reflecting job losses. The ministry of labour last week denied that the shutdown had caused job losses, saying companies operating on Instagram had switched to domestic messaging services such as Rubika.

Many firms said their businesses relied on the Google search engine, and total daily economic losses exceeded $6 million.

U.S. and Israeli attacks on 28 February. Security officials had resisted restoring full access, citing concerns that free communication with the west could lead to further protests. Iran imposes penalties on anyone found sending information or pictures to satellite channels such as Iran International.

The national security council approved a plan called Internet Pro to grant certain groups paid internet access with daily limits on foreign websites. The cost of access remained prohibitive for many young people. Platforms such as Instagram, X, and YouTube are formally blocked but are routinely accessed via virtual private networks.

A lucrative business exists in Iran selling anti-filtering devices.