Internet access returns to Iran, but partially

Iranian authorities have unblocked SMS messaging services, and internet access has resumed for some users after a complete shutdown, a TASS correspondent reported.

Residents of the Islamic republic can now send SMS messages to each other and make international calls. Some Tehran residents reported that internet connectivity has reappeared in their homes, although connection speeds remain very low. Mobile internet access is still unavailable.

In early January 2026, Iranian authorities imposed a near-total internet blackout across the country amid widespread anti-government protests that began in late December 2025. Monitoring groups such as NetBlocks reported that connectivity dropped to almost zero as major cities including Tehran experienced nationwide shutdowns of both mobile data and broadband access.

The blackout was part of a broader effort by the government to suppress the protests and control the flow of information. Authorities have increasingly relied on digital censorship and connectivity restrictions to limit communication among protesters and restrict coverage of escalating violence and casualties.

By Khagan Isayev