Iran's Internet Paralysed as President Steps In to Restore Access

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Iran’s internet has been completely down for nearly 90 days following a total government blockade, causing severe disruption to local communities.

The shutdown has not only devastated the macroeconomic business sector but also disrupted civilian life due to restrictions on communication.

According to global internet neutrality monitoring agency NetBlocks, the economic losses incurred by Iran due to the internet restrictions have reached a staggering $2.6 billion, equivalent to Rp46 trillion.

However, Iranian citizens, who have also been victims of US-Israel attacks, can now breathe a sigh of relief as President Masoud Pezeskhian has ordered the restoration of international internet access, according to local media reports.

The report cited Iran’s Communications Ministry spokesperson, as reported by Reuters on Tuesday, 26 May 2026.

Further details on how and when Iran will reconnect to the global internet remain unclear.

The majority of Iranians have been unable to access the global internet for 87 days, NetBlocks reported, with only a small number able to afford expensive advanced VPNs during the restrictions.

The government imposed the internet blackout on 8 January 2026 in response to nationwide anti-government protests, with connections gradually restored in February 2026 before a new shutdown began following US and Israel’s attacks on Iran on 28 February 2026.

Even in normal circumstances, access to the global internet remains heavily restricted through censorship of numerous websites. Authorities rely on a domestic intranet to provide connected services without relying on the World Wide Web, particularly for schools currently following online curricula.