TEHRAN, Iran — International internet access has been restored across Iran following a directive from President Masoud Pezeshkian, ending months of severe restrictions that had limited access to global websites and online services, according to a report by UNIPA News citing Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency.

Tasnim reported on Tuesday that fixed broadband services, including Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH), VDSL, and ADSL, as well as mobile internet networks, are now operating without the restrictions that had been imposed since January 2026. Authorities said connectivity has returned to conditions that existed before the nationwide internet clampdown.

Iranian authorities initially imposed a near-total internet blackout on January 8 and 9 amid widespread protests that escalated in late December following a sharp depreciation of the Iranian rial against the U.S. dollar. Restrictions were later intensified after military strikes launched by the United States and Israel on February 28, according to the report.

Throughout the unrest and subsequent conflict, domestic banking systems and local online platforms remained operational. However, access to international websites and services was largely dependent on Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), disrupting business operations and online commerce across the country.

Despite the restoration of broader internet connectivity, several major global platforms, including YouTube and X, remain blocked in Iran. Many users continue to rely on VPN services to access these platforms.

Iranian officials stated that 3,117 people were killed during the January protests. Human rights organizations, however, have estimated the death toll to be as high as 7,000. Iranian authorities have accused Washington and Tel Aviv of exploiting the unrest to justify foreign interference in the country’s internal affairs.