Internet Returns to Iran After Three Months, but Users Report Heavy Filtering and Blocked Apps: 'Too Early to Say the Shutdown Is Over'

Internet access has begun returning across Iran after a shutdown that lasted nearly three months, though users and monitoring groups say connectivity remains unstable, heavily filtered and subject to continued restrictions.

NetBlocks, an internet monitoring organization, said Iran's overall connectivity had recovered to about 86% of pre-shutdown levels, while internet traffic, a measure of actual data usage, remained closer to 40%, according to analysis firm Kentik, both reported by The Associated Press.

Popular platforms such as YouTube and Instagram were still restricted in many areas, users said. Many reported home internet had returned while mobile service was still unavailable. Others said speeds were significantly slower than before the shutdown and that filtering had intensified.

"It's too early to say the shutdown is over," Iranian cybersecurity analyst Amir Rashidi wrote on X.

Iran imposed the blackout after the United States and Israel launched strikes on the country on February 28. Authorities described the shutdown as necessary to prevent cyberattacks, espionage and wartime surveillance. The restrictions were later expanded during months of unrest and economic disruption.

The outage became one of the longest nationwide internet shutdowns in modern history, according to monitoring groups consulted by The Associated Press. During the blackout, many Iranians relied on expensive virtual private networks, or VPNs, and smuggled satellite internet systems to access the global web. Proton VPN said signups surged 6,000% as connectivity began returning this week.

"After 88 days, it felt exactly like a prisoner being released after three months of imprisonment and seeing the sky for the first time," one Iranian told the BBC, while another user added that "the mere fact that the internet is back is cause for celebration."

The Guardian reported that the return of internet access also revealed growing public anger over inflation and shortages. Social media users complained about food price increases, including annual jumps of 308% for vegetable oil, 190% for chicken and 170% for rice.

Iranian officials have suggested restrictions could continue in some form. The country's intelligence ministry warned this week that adversaries could use internet freedom for what it described as "cognitive warfare" aimed at inciting unrest.