Iran Launches Cyberspace Headquarters as 90 Million Stay Offline Amid War Blackout

Context: Since late February Iran has been under a near‑total internet shutdown after the start of hostilities with the United States and Israel. The blackout affects more than 90 million people, leaving only a slow state‑run intranet and limited access to approved apps. Authorities have offered a tiered service called "Internet Pro" for certain professionals, but it is costly and still blocks most international platforms. Virtual private networks and Starlink terminals are actively sought by users, yet security forces routinely disrupt them.

Key Facts: - President Masoud Pezeshkian announced the Specialised Headquarters for Organising and Guiding Iran’s Cyberspace, appointing First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref to lead it. - The ongoing shutdown cuts off internet access for over 90 million Iranians. - Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani described the blackout as a temporary measure required by wartime security concerns.

What It Means: The new headquarters aims to streamline overlapping cyber agencies and produce a unified policy roadmap, which could eventually clarify how and when restrictions might be lifted. However, the body’s mandate does not include an immediate end to the blackout, and the tiered access model remains in place for select users. The prolonged disconnection has disrupted e‑commerce, education, and tele‑medicine, contributing to measurable economic losses. Digital rights groups warn that the lack of a clear restoration timeline risks entrenching restricted access as a permanent feature.

What to watch next: Observers will monitor whether the headquarters issues concrete timelines for restoring full internet access and whether the tiered service expands or remains limited to privileged groups. Any shift in the Supreme Council of Cyberspace’s leadership or policy direction will also signal the government’s longer‑term approach to online control.