Iran partially restored international internet access on 26 May 2026 after 88 days and 2,093 hours of near-total blackout
- • This is the longest nationwide internet shutdown in modern history.
- • NetBlocks called the outage unprecedented and warned the restoration may not last.
- • Iran’s President Massoud Pezeshkian ordered the return to connectivity.
- • Hours later, Iran’s Judiciary issued a temporary order halting the decision.
- • The near-total blackout began in late February after the war with the US and Israel, following an earlier, shorter shutdown during the January uprising.
Power Struggle Over Iran’s Internet
On Tuesday 26 May 2026, the Iranian regime began partially restoring international internet connectivity after the longest nationwide blackout in modern history.
Internet monitoring group NetBlocks confirmed the move on day 88, after 2,093 hours of near-total isolation from international networks. It described the shutdown as “the longest nationwide internet shutdown in modern history” and added: “It is unclear if the restoration will be sustained.”
State Media Announces Restoration
At midday Tuesday, the state-run ISNA news agency reported:
“With the issuance of the internet connection order by the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, the connection process is underway and this possibility will be provided for everyone within 24 hours.”
Later that afternoon (17:09 CET), the state-run ISNA News Agency claimed full restoration:
“Full international internet connection has been established in Iran’s telecommunications. Dear subscribers who use fixed broadband services (FTTH, VDSL and ADSL) are now fully connected to the global internet network without any restrictions and can fully benefit from all services and international websites.”
Pezeshkian’s Order
The move followed an order from Pezeshkian to restore international internet access to its pre-January 2026 status.
Later, the Judiciary pushed back. The Media Centre of the Judiciary announced on Tuesday that the Administrative Justice Court had halted implementation of the Cyberspace Headquarters resolution:
“Following complaints seeking the annulment of the document establishing the Special Headquarters for Organizing and Leading the Country’s Cyberspace…, the Specialized Board of Industries and Commerce, having established necessity and urgency, issued an order to suspend implementation of this resolution until final adjudication.”
The court clarified it had not ruled on the actual issue of cutting or restoring the internet itself — only on the legality of the Cyberspace Headquarters’ structure.
Gradual Reconnection Begins
Despite the judicial order, internet access began gradually returning later in the day. By tonight, state media reported that international internet access had returned to its pre-January 2026 status.
Context of the Blackout
The near-total international blackout began in late February 2026, shortly after the outbreak of war. It followed an earlier, shorter internet shutdown imposed during the nationwide uprising in January. That initial blackout was partially lifted after the protests, but the February escalation triggered the 88-day near-total isolation recorded by NetBlocks.
During the nearly three-month blackout, the regime faced accusations of hiding the scale of repression and executions. The economic cost to businesses and ordinary Iranians has been enormous, leaving millions completely cut off from the outside world.