Internet Access Restored for Iranians After Four-Day Blackout

Following a four-day near-total blackout, Iranians have found intermittent internet access, although many fear the connections are temporary and insecure.

After enduring a four-day internet blackout, some Iranians managed to access weak and unreliable internet connections late Friday, allowing them a glimpse of the outside world. This newfound access comes amid strict government restrictions that continue to loom heavily over communication networks. Many users adapted by switching servers, but reported that the connections still felt precarious and transient.

"Sending even simple SMS messages has been a challenge," shared Arta, an Iranian who recently fled Tehran, as he expressed relief over being able to send a few messages via Instagram. He, like many other users, opted to remain anonymous to shield himself from potential government retribution.

Iran's citizens have historically relied on virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass internet censorship; however, many of these services have faced disruptions amid recent geopolitical tensions, particularly following attacks attributed to Israel. Reports emerged on Saturday that while some connections began to trickle back, VPN providers urged their users to tread lightly, warning against sharing links that could compromise server stability. An organizer from a VPN provider took to Telegram to issue a cautionary note, highlighting a spike in disconnections and urging users to limit their sharing.

The situation continues to evolve, with Iranians cautiously hoping for more robust internet access while remaining acutely aware of the government's tightening grasp on communications.