Iranians greet internet return with grief, anger and defiance

After 88 days offline, Iran’s internet is finally creeping back — but many Iranians aren’t celebrating. In emotional messages shared with Iran int’l, citizens described grief, exhaustion and fury after months of blackout chaos.

Some mourned protesters killed during January unrest, saying thousands “will never come online again.” Others blasted authorities for treating internet access like a privilege instead of a basic right.

Many users also mocked the government’s controversial “Internet Pro” system, accusing officials of creating a tiered web for the elite while ordinary people struggled with weak signals and lost businesses.

Despite the restored connection, frustration remains sky-high — with many saying trust, livelihoods and normal life were damaged long before the internet returned.