Data from global internet monitoring organizations indicate that Iran has partially restored internet access after recording the longest deliberate nationwide internet shutdown in the world.
NetBlocks, the international internet observatory, announced on 26 May 2026: “On the 88th day, and after 2,093 hours of near-total disconnection from international networks -the longest nationwide internet outage in modern history- connectivity in Iran has been partially restored.”
Other global internet monitoring groups have issued similar confirmations, reporting a limited improvement in Iran’s internet status. Nevertheless, widespread disruptions and severe filtering continue across the country. Internet traffic remains significantly lower than levels prior to the protests of January 2026.
Iranian state media reported yesterday that President Masoud Pezeshkian has instructed the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology to implement the resolution titled “Return of the Internet to Pre-Dey 1404 Conditions.” The resolution was approved by the “Headquarters for Cyberspace Leadership and Organization,” a newly established body. Notably, on the same day the resolution for reopening the internet was issued, Iran’s Administrative Court of Justice ruled to suspend the activities of this body and declared its decisions unlawful.
It remains unclear whether the partial restoration of internet access will be sustained or whether widespread outages and disruptions will recur. Internet shutdowns and interference have become a recurring pattern in Iran during major sensitive events, such as the outbreak of anti-government protests or armed conflicts.
In the first month of 2026, Iran experienced one of the most unprecedented information blackouts in the history of the Islamic Republic, lasting approximately 20 days. In response to the spread of anti-government protests, the Islamic Republic launched a new wave of judicial and security measures against journalists, media outlets, and independent voices. International internet access was severed, and severe disruptions affected domestic communication networks, including mobile telephony. These conditions intensified about a month later, following the outbreak of the war between Iran and the US-Israel coalition.