Iranian President Massoud Peseschkian.Image: EPA
May 25, 2026, 9:23 p.mMay 25, 2026, 9:23 p.m
Iranian President Massoud Peseschkian has ordered the activation of the international Internet. He was reacting to a decision by a “special staff”, the majority of which had previously voted for the re-release. According to the Fars news agency, the decision had to be confirmed by the president before it came into force.
A specific date for unlocking has not yet been given. However, in mid-May, Iranian media reported about a possible activation on June 5th.
Lockdown had significant economic consequences
The government had almost completely blocked access to the global Internet since the war began on February 28th. Since then, around 90 million Iranians have only been able to use the so-called “national internet”, where only government-approved websites can be accessed.
The lockdown had not only social but also significant economic consequences. The more than one million online retailers in the country were particularly affected, as their income was massively restricted by the blockade. Officially, the state justifies the shutdown with safety concerns. However, observers assume that the leadership primarily wanted to prevent reports, images and videos about the actual extent of the war damage and the mood in the country from being spread on social media. (sda/dpa)