Internet access resumed in Iran after authorities ended a monthslong shutdown. Users reported slow and unreliable service in some areas, with heavy restrictions on apps such as YouTube and Instagram. Authorities had justified the outage as a military imperative following attacks on Feb. 28 by the United States and Israel. Some restrictions were lifted as negotiators appeared to be nearing a more permanent truce, but many people feared access could be cut off again. Netblocks reported connectivity at about 86% of pre-shutdown capacity, while Kentik reported internet traffic at about 40%. Widespread disruptions persisted, and the shutdown caused major economic and social harm, including job losses, business closures, and difficulty communicating with family abroad.
"The cutoff made it difficult for Iranian families to communicate through months of unrest and war. At some points, phone lines were also cut off, though they were later restored. A woman living in Tehran said that for months she was barely able to speak to her sons living abroad. She couldn't believe authorities had restored access, saying she had assumed they would find some justification to prolong the outage."
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