Iran's government announced plans to restore internet access for university professors and researchers, marking a small concession during a 51-day nationwide internet blackout that has crippled the country's 90 million people. The shutdown, imposed amid national security concerns during the war with the United States and Israel, has isolated most Iranians from international websites and severely disrupted businesses.

For seven weeks, Iranians have relied on a heavily surveilled domestic internet, with only select officials and elites maintaining open connections. The blackout has drawn criticism from business leaders and internet freedom activists who call it a human rights violation threatening an already crisis-stricken economy. Some Iranians using expensive black market workarounds have expressed frustration at the government's limited concessions.

While authorities have restored access to Google searches and maps, experts note users still cannot open most linked websites. Deputy Science Minister Seyed Mehdi Abtahi told state media that professors would gradually gain broader access to international sites, excluding censored content. Digital rights advocates warn these selective openings signal a dangerous shift toward a tiered internet system where access becomes a privilege rather than a right, fundamentally altering how the internet functions in Iran.