Iran Official Says Internet Shutdown Losses Cannot Be Recovered; Hardliner MP Calls Reopening Illegal

28/05/2026

TEHRAN, May 28: An official at the Tehran Chamber of Commerce has warned that economic and business losses caused by Iran’s recent internet shutdown cannot be recovered, as critical time and opportunities have already been lost.

Maziar Nourbakhsh, head of the chamber’s transformation, innovation and productivity committee, said international internet access in Iran has still not returned to its pre-January 2026 levels, despite partial restoration following the prolonged blackout.

He noted that disruptions to connectivity have had lasting impacts on trade, productivity, and digital business operations, adding that “lost time and opportunities are gone” and cannot be compensated.

Lawmaker calls reopening the internet “illegal”

In a separate development, an Iranian MP said reopening unrestricted internet access would be against the law.

Ahmad Rastineh, spokesman for parliament’s cultural committee, said that restoring open internet access violates national regulations and argued that the state should instead prioritize expanding the National Information Network, a domestic intranet designed to operate independently of the global web.

Rastineh warned that “unregulated access” to the internet—particularly for teenagers—could lead to what he described as serious social harm. He also questioned the authority of a body established by President Masoud Pezeshkian to oversee internet restoration, saying its role overlaps with the Supreme Council of Cyberspace.

Connectivity returns, but restrictions remain

Meanwhile, internet monitoring group NetBlocks reported that connectivity in Iran has largely been restored after months of disruption. However, it said users continue to face heavy filtering.

“While connectivity has now largely returned, metrics indicate that users still face heavy filtering, similar to the interim period between the January protests and the start of the war,” NetBlocks said.

The ongoing debate highlights growing tensions within Iran’s political and economic institutions over digital access, regulation, and control of information infrastructure.