TEHRAN, JAN 18: Iranian authorities have indicated that they are considering a ‘gradual’ restoration of internet access after more than a week of a sweeping communications shutdown across the country, local media reported.
On Sunday morning, AFP reported limited internet connectivity from its Tehran office, though most internet providers and mobile networks remain offline. The reason for this partial access was not immediately clear.
International calls have been possible since Tuesday, and text messaging was restored on Saturday morning. The Tasnim news agency reported late Saturday that authorities plan to gradually restore internet access, with local messaging applications expected to be reactivated on Iran’s domestic intranet.
The unprecedented blackout was imposed as anti-government protests intensified, initially triggered by the country’s economic crisis. During the shutdown, text messages, international calls, and sometimes even local calls were cut off, forcing Iranians to rely on a domestic intranet that supports local media, ride-hailing services, delivery platforms, and banking. State television has promoted local messaging apps, such as Rubika, which were previously largely inaccessible.
Popular platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Telegram, YouTube, and other social media had been blocked in Iran for years, with VPNs needed to bypass restrictions.
The protests, which began on December 28, are widely seen as the largest challenge to Iran’s leadership since the 2022 demonstrations following Mahsa Amini’s death in custody. While the unrest has reportedly eased in recent days, the death toll remains disputed. Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) verified 3,428 deaths caused by security forces, though the actual number may be several times higher. Other estimates, including those cited by Iran International, suggest fatalities could be over 12,000, while some estimates reach as high as 20,000. Iranian officials deny these figures.
Authorities describe the demonstrations as initially peaceful, escalating into riots involving property damage, and have blamed foreign interference, particularly from the United States and Israel. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claimed that “a few thousand” deaths occurred at the hands of agents from these countries who allegedly instigated the unrest.
Iran’s announcement to gradually restore connectivity marks a cautious step toward easing the nationwide restrictions, though much of the country remains offline.
