Internet Restoration Commences in Iran
Internet access in Iran has begun to be restored following a nearly three-month blackout, according to the country's first vice-president.
"The first step toward free and regulated access to cyberspace has been taken,"Mohammad Reza Aref stated on X on Tuesday.
Reports of Partial Connectivity
Internet monitoring organizations Netblocks and Kentik reported a "partial" restoration of internet services around 13:00 GMT. However, Kentik cautioned that most networks remained offline.
Background of the Shutdown
The Iranian government severed internet access on 28 February, coinciding with the onset of US and Israeli attacks. Officials indicated the shutdown aimed to prevent surveillance, espionage, and cyber-attacks. This blackout is among the longest national internet shutdowns recorded globally.
Uncertainty About Sustained Access
Netblocks noted that it remains "unclear" whether the restoration will be maintained.
"From past digital blackouts in Iran we've seen that the restoration process can take some hours and isn't as streamlined as the shutdown procedure,"said Isik Mater, director of research at Netblocks, in an earlier statement to BBC Verify.
Context of Previous Internet Access
When the US and Iranian attacks commenced and internet access was cut, Iran had only experienced full connectivity to the outside world for about a month. This brief period followed a prior shutdown imposed during January's deadly regime crackdown on anti-government protests.
