Iran turns internet back on, but old restrictions remain

Deutsche Welle · 🇩🇪 public Germany · May 28, 2026 · 672 words · By Shabnam von Hein

Human Rights and Digital Freedom State Censorship Economic Impact of Internet Shutdowns

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Iran turns internet back on, but old restrictions remain May 28, 2026Internet access in Iran was partially restored earlier this week after an 88-day blackout.

Claims checked 14

Techniques found 1

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center100%

Right0%

3 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Iran turns internet back on, but old restrictions remain May 28, 2026Internet access in Iran was partially restored earlier this week after an 88-day blackout.

Why it matters

Real-time data from NetBlocks, a global internet monitor based in London, and the IT company Cloudflare show a significant increase in web traffic compared to recent weeks.

Common ground

"Web traffic is still lower than it was before January.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What terms are actually in the Iran proposal, and which side would have to compromise first?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that The only remaining means of communication is, in some cases, the telephone landline network. Before a connection is established, an automated message plays, providing a code. The connection is only established after this code is entered?
How does this story connect Human Rights and Digital Freedom with State Censorship over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.dw.com/en/iran-turns-internet-back-on-but-old-restrictions-remain/a-…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 14 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 4

check_circle Corroborated 4

verified Verified By Reference 2

help Insufficient Evidence 2

info Single Source 1

verified Verified 1

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Claim 1: “The only remaining means of communication is, in some cases, the telephone landline network. Before a connection is established, an automated message plays, providing a code. The connection is only established after this code is entered.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 2: “Apps like WhatsApp, which play a vital role in communication within the country and with the outside world, are still not working, even with VPN connections”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 3: “To use social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, expensive local VPN services are part of daily life for the majority of users.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

verified

Claim 4: “the internet in Iran has been severely disrupted since the deadly crackdown on nationwide demonstrations in January.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia and multiple web sources confirm that an internet blackout was imposed on January 8, 2026, during the 2025-2026 Iranian protests.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2025–2026 Iranian protests are a series of nationwide demonstrations against the government of Iran that began on 28 December 2025 amid a deepening economic crisis. The unrest followed a sharp dep…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025–2026_Iranian_protests

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — On 8 January 2026, the twelfth day of the 2025–2026 protests in Iran, Iranian authorities imposed an internet blackout. Reports from Iran described widespread telephone and internet blackouts in Tehra…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Internet_blackout_in_Iran

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Iran is known for having one of the world's most restrictive internet censorship systems, including heavy restrictions on many popular websites and online services such as YouTube,TikTok, Twitter, Fac…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_censorship_in_Iran

+ 3 more evidence sources

check_circle

Claim 5: “Iran experienced the longest nationwide internet shutdown in recent history following the US-Israeli attacks on Iran launched on February 28.”

CORROBORATED

BBC, DW, and Wikipedia all report that US-Israeli attacks on February 28, 2026, were followed by the longest nationwide internet shutdown in recent history.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Since 28 February 2026, the United States and Israel have been at war with Iran and its regional allies. Active hostilities broke out after surprise US–Israeli airstrikes targeting military and govern…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Iran_war

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Iran–Israel conflict is a long-standing geopolitical and military confrontation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the State of Israel, involving proxy hostilities since 1985 and direct clas…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran–Israel_conflict

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Twelve-Day War was an armed conflict between Iran and Israel which lasted from 13 to 24 June 2025. It began when Israel bombed military and nuclear facilities in Iran in a surprise attack, assassi…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve-Day_War

+ 3 more evidence sources

info

Claim 6: “a crisis management team led by his vice president, Mohammad Reza Aref, had been established to reduce the "multiplicity of voices" and overlapping responsibilities in Iran's internet policy.”

SINGLE SOURCE

While Mohammad Reza Aref is confirmed as First Vice President in Wikipedia, the specific detail about leading a 'crisis management team' to reduce 'multiplicity of voices' is not corroborated by the provided evidence snippets.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — President · Masoud Pezeshkian. • First Vice President · Mohammad Reza Aref. • Speaker of the Assembly · Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. • Chief Justice · Gholam- ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran

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web search NEUTRAL — Nov 26, 2025 · ... Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref has submitted his resignation. The government has not confirmed the reports. Some accounts suggest the ...
https://www.iranintl.com/en/202511268549

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Apr 12, 2026 · Iran's Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said Sunday that Tehran will stand firm on defending its rights “from the Strait of Hormuz to pursuing ...
https://www.facebook.com/etribune/posts/irans-vice-president…

help

Claim 7: “the National Security Council approved a plan to grant certain groups access to the so-called "Internet Pro" in exchange for payment.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results regarding a plan for 'Internet Pro' access in exchange for payment.

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Claim 8: “Internet access in Iran was partially restored earlier this week after an 88-day blackout.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent sources, including NetBlocks and news reports from May 26, 2026, confirm that internet access in Iran was partially restored after an 88-day blackout.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Since the beginning of the 2025–26 Iranian protests, the Iranian government has perpetrated widespread massacres of civilians, deploying both its own security forces and importing foreign militias to …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Iran_massacres

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 9: “Real-time data from NetBlocks, a global internet monitor based in London, and the IT company Cloudflare show a significant increase in web traffic compared to recent weeks.”

CORROBORATED

Both NetBlocks and Cloudflare Radar provided live data and blog posts confirming a significant increase in web traffic and partial restoration of connectivity in late May 2026.

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+ 3 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 10: “Solmaz Eikder from Filterbaan, also known as Filterwatch, an Iranian digital rights organization that monitors internet censorship, digital repression and surveillance in Iran.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

check_circle

Claim 11: “On Monday, according to Iranian sources, President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered the restoration of internet access.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple news reports from May 25, 2026, state that President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered the restoration of international internet access.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — May 25, 2026 ... Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has issued an order to reopen international internet access ... May 25, 202610:41 AM PDTUpdated May 25, 2026.
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/irans-president-or…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — May 25, 2026 ... Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday ordered the Ministry of Communications to restore international internet ... May 25, 2026, 18 ...
https://www.iranintl.com/en/202605259832

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — May 27, 2026 ... 6770 likes, 454 comments - groundnews on May 27, 2026: "Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has ordered international internet access to ...
https://www.instagram.com/p/DY2jQfTIEEA/

verified

Claim 12: “In Iran, several agencies, including the National Security Council and the Supreme Council for Cyberspace, are involved in decisions regarding digital control.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia and reports from Article 19 and Freedom on the Net confirm the roles of the Supreme Council for Cyberspace (SCC) and the National Security Council in digital control.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — May 16, 2026 · Alireza Salimi said Iran already has the Supreme Council of Cyberspace and the National Cyberspace Center, with clearly defined responsibilities ...
https://www.iranintl.com/en/202605161932

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — In this report, ARTICLE 19 takes a look at how the Iranian regime is strengthening its hold over the internet through its Supreme Council of Cyberspace (SCC).
https://www.article19.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Supreme…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — In February 2024, the Supreme Council for Cyberspace (SCC) ... national security decisions directed by the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC).
https://freedomhouse.org/country/iran/freedom-net/2024

verified

Claim 13: “Rashidi is the director of the Miaan Group, a US-based organization that advocates for human rights, digital freedom, and social justice in Iran and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.”

VERIFIED

Web search results and LinkedIn profiles confirm Amir Rashidi is associated with the Miaan Group and is an expert on Iranian internet censorship.

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travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Rashidi regularly appears in the media and has published over 500 articles for news outlets and human rights platforms inside and outside the country.
https://miaan.org/about-us/amir-rashidi/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — · Experience: The Miaan Group · Education: Islamic Azad University of Khomein Arak (Iran) · Location: Brooklyn · 500+ connections on LinkedIn. View Amir Rashidi’s profile on LinkedIn, a professional c…
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amir-rashidi-5859458

+ 1 more evidence source

help

Claim 14: “This offer is aimed at groups like members of the Chamber of Commerce, start-ups, technology companies, and vetted merchants, among others.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found regarding the target groups for the 'Internet Pro' access, as the existence of the plan itself was not found.

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.