Iran Weighs Gradual Internet Restoration After Shutdown As Fears Grow Over Permanent Curbs

Last Updated:January 18, 2026, 16:58 IST

Iran has been under a near-total communications blackout since January 8, cutting off internet access for around 92 million people.

An Iranian official reported at least 5,000 deaths in recent protests, including 500 security forces, with major clashes in Kurdish regions. (AFP photo)

Iran on Sunday said they are considering a gradual restoration of internet services after imposing one of the most severe communications shutdowns in the country’s history.

Local media reported that officials were planning a phased return of internet access. The semi-official Tasnim news agency said “relevant authorities" had announced the move, though no clear timetable or details were given.

Some services have already been partially restored. Outgoing international phone calls resumed earlier in the week, and text messaging services were restored on Saturday morning.

Tasnim also reported that local messaging applications would soon be reactivated on Iran’s domestic intranet.

Iran has been under a near-total communications blackout since January 8, cutting off internet access for around 92 million people. Phone and text services were also disrupted. The government introduced the shutdown amid calls for anti-government protests linked to economic hardship.

Iranian officials say the move was necessary for security reasons. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the internet was cut in response to what he described as externally directed “terrorist operations". Authorities have blamed foreign enemies, including the United States and Israel, for unrest in the country.

Fears Grow Over Permanent Curbs

However, despite talk of a gradual reopening, a BBC report on Sunday raised serious doubts about whether full access will return.

Citing the news website IranWire, the BBC said government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani told journalists that international internet access would not be restored until at least the Iranian New Year in late March.

Internet monitoring group FilterWatch believes the government is preparing to impose long-term or permanent restrictions. It says authorities are rushing to put new systems and rules in place to tightly control access to the global internet.

“There should be no expectation of reopening international internet access, and even afterwards, users’ access to international internet will never return to its previous form," FilterWatch said, citing unnamed government sources.

It warned that Iran may be moving towards a system where access is limited, monitored and subject to approval.

Iran has long restricted online activity, with platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, X, Telegram and YouTube blocked for years. Many users have relied on VPNs to get around the bans. Experts now fear access could become even more limited under a new tiered system.

Rights groups say the shutdown has made it harder to verify information about protests and deaths. The Human Rights Activists News Agency estimates more than 3,300 confirmed protester deaths, with thousands of additional cases under review. Arrests are said to have exceeded 24,000 across the country.

Campaigners also warn the blackout is hurting livelihoods, particularly online businesses. Access Now said full restoration of internet services is vital, warning that shutdowns allow abuses to be hidden and damage everyday life.

(With inputs from AFP)

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