Iran considers gradual restoration of internet after nationwide shutdown
Iranian authorities are considering a gradual restoration of internet access after imposing an unprecedented nationwide communications shutdown more than a week ago, local media reported on Sunday.
AFP journalists were able to briefly connect to the internet from Tehran on Sunday morning, although the majority of internet service providers and mobile data networks across the country remain inaccessible. Officials did not immediately explain why limited connectivity was restored in certain locations.
Outgoing international phone calls have been operational since Tuesday, while text messaging services were restored early Saturday. Late on Saturday night, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that “relevant authorities have announced that internet access would also be gradually restored,” without providing a specific timeline.
Citing an unnamed informed source, Tasnim said local messaging applications would soon become functional on Iran’s domestic intranet network. During the blackout, authorities relied heavily on the intranet to keep essential services operational, including local media outlets, banking systems, ride-hailing services, and delivery platforms.
State television has since begun promoting domestic messaging applications such as Rubika, which had been largely unavailable earlier in the week.
The sweeping communications shutdown was imposed as calls intensified for anti-government demonstrations, initially sparked by worsening economic conditions. At the height of the blackout, text messaging, international calls, and even some local calls were suspended for several days.
The protests, which erupted on December 28, are widely regarded as the most serious challenge to Iran’s leadership since the widespread demonstrations following the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini while in custody. However, reports suggest that the latest wave of protests has subsided in recent days.
Iranian authorities have not released an official death toll related to the unrest. Norway-based rights organisation Iran Human Rights (IHR) has claimed that at least 3,428 people were verified to have been killed by security forces, warning that the actual figure could be significantly higher.
Other estimates place the death toll above 5,000 and potentially as high as 20,000, according to IHR. Meanwhile, Iran International, an opposition television channel operating from abroad, has claimed that at least 12,000 people were killed, citing senior government and security sources — a figure Iran’s judiciary has categorically rejected.
Iranian officials maintain that the demonstrations began peacefully before devolving into riots involving vandalism and attacks on public property. Authorities have blamed foreign interference, particularly from the United States and Israel, for instigating the unrest.
On Saturday, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said “a few thousand” people had been killed by what he described as “agents” of the two countries, whom he accused of fueling the violence.
The situation remains under close observation as authorities weigh the restoration of full internet access amid ongoing security concerns.
