Iranian President Orders Restoration of International Internet Access

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has ordered the restoration of international internet access, according to a report by the Fars news agency on Monday. This decision follows a vote by a special task force that favored reauthorizing internet access for the population. No specific date for the lifting of the blockade has been announced; however, Iranian media previously reported a possible date of June 5. Since the start of the conflict with the US and Israel on February 28, the Iranian government has largely blocked access to the global internet, restricting the approximately 90 million Iranians to a national internet that only allows access to state-approved websites. This shutdown has had significant economic and social impacts, particularly affecting over 1 million online traders whose incomes have been severely restricted. The government cites security concerns as the reason for the shutdown, although it is believed that the leadership aims to prevent the dissemination of information regarding the war's impact.