Arabic version: إيران تستعيد الوصول المحدود إلى الإنترنت مع استمرار القيود

Iran has reinstated some internet access three months after taking the country offline at the start of the war with the United States and Israel, but restrictions remain in place for most people. According to Al Jazeera, this partial restoration follows the longest nationwide internet shutdown in history, which lasted over 2,000 hours.

Despite the reopening, many Iranians still face barriers to accessing the global internet. Access to millions of web pages remains blocked by the state, including popular platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Users report slow and unstable connections, with various local applications frequently malfunctioning. The partial internet access has led to a surge in demand for VPN services, often sold on the black market as users seek to bypass state-imposed restrictions.

The Iranian government has implemented a tiered-access internet system, which grants different levels of connectivity based on users’ classifications. This system has drawn criticism for turning full internet access into a privilege for a select few. Reports indicate that many data centers have yet to be fully brought back online, and certain internet protocols remain disrupted, creating a challenging environment for users.

Criticism of President Masoud Pezeshkian’s administration is mounting, as both reformist and hardline factions express dissatisfaction with the pace of internet restoration. While some citizens have regained access to social media and are sharing experiences from the ongoing conflict, frustrations linger over the inadequate and limited nature of the current internet services. One Tehran resident expressed discontent, stating, “What we have right now is not the internet; it’s a return to the previous half-closed condition that is now being sold as an achievement.”