Story perspectives

Iran President Orders Full Internet Restoration Amid Protest Deaths

5/26/2026

Summary

Pezeshkian Restores Internet

President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered the restoration of international internet access in Iran on 25 May 2026.
Tasnim and Fars reported that the decree was sent to the Ministry of Communications.
Authorities shut down the internet during protests in early January and again on 28 February, limiting users to domestic platforms.
Officials reported 3,117 protest deaths, estimated up to 7,000 by human-rights groups, and accused the United States and Israel of exploiting the unrest.

Summary

Chitsaz Restores Internet

Deputy Minister Ehsan Chitsaz announced a decree to restore internet, calling it oxygen of the digital economy and a right.
Interior designer Mahla, 55, of Tehran sold valuables and gold to pay staff after the 87-day blackout.
Fars News Agency questioned President Pezeshkian’s authority to lift the ban, citing Supreme National Security Council’s order.
The Ministry of Communications has not issued reconnection roadmap, leaving citizens uncertain after the 2,064-hour outage.

Summary

Pezeshkian Restores Net

A special task force voted to reauthorise internet access, prompting President Masoud Pezeshkian to issue the order.
Over one million online traders reported severe income loss during the 87-day internet blackout.
The shutdown forced many e-commerce platforms to suspend operations, curtailing cross-border sales and payments.
Schools nationwide relied on the state-run intranet for curricula, limiting access to global educational resources.

History

Historical Context

On 27 January 2011 Egypt shut down its national internet as protests forced President Hosni Mubarak to resign. The action mirrored Arab-Spring blackouts, such as Libya’s YouTube block on 17 February 2011, and marked a shift toward routine digital silences. OECD later estimated the Egyptian outage cost about $90 million, highlighting rising economic risks.

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Pezeshkian Restores Internet

President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered the restoration of international internet access in Iran on 25 May 2026.
Tasnim and Fars reported that the decree was sent to the Ministry of Communications.
Authorities shut down the internet during protests in early January and again on 28 February, limiting users to domestic platforms.
Officials reported 3,117 protest deaths, estimated up to 7,000 by human-rights groups, and accused the United States and Israel of exploiting the unrest.

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