Iran has begun restoring limited internet access for university professors after more than 50 days of a near-total nationwide blackout imposed during its war with the United States and Israel. While authorities say the shutdown was necessary for national security, most of the country’s more than 90 million people remain largely cut off from the global internet.

During the blackout, Iranians have struggled to communicate with relatives abroad, access independent information, and operate businesses that rely on online services. Although access to tools such as Google search and maps has reportedly been restored, users still cannot open many external websites, and most international connections remain blocked.

The government plans to gradually expand broader access to professors and researchers, and some providers have introduced approved international service for select users. Critics warn that these steps signal the emergence of a ‘tiered internet’ system in which meaningful access is reserved for political and economic elites. Digital rights advocates argue that internet access is increasingly being treated as a security-controlled resource rather than a public right.