By Pishtaz | 2026-05-15

While some businesses and approved professionals are being offered a return to the internet, most of the country's 90 million citizens remain in total blackout.

The Islamic Republic regime, with approval from the Supreme National Security Council, has rolled out a selective service often called "Internet Pro."

This initiative aims to keep critical sectors online while the general population is firewalled from the world.

Digital rights experts estimate that the sustained blackout is costing the Iranian economy tens of millions of dollars a day, paralyzing local e-commerce.

The blackout is widely seen as a tool to mask severe domestic crackdowns and human rights violations.

The regime has aggressively pushed the population to shift onto a state-controlled intranet through a policy of "whitelisting" and creating a "tiered internet."

The system grants privileged access to certain professional groups and trusted loyalists who meet specific eligibility requirements.

Applicants must submit full identification and provide professional referrals to qualify for the restricted-access program.

Cybersecurity experts warn that the regime is using the system to monitor traffic and intercept communications, expanding state surveillance over those who are granted connectivity.

This creates a digital divide where access to information is a privilege, not a right.

However, the rollout has faced a significant backlash from the very professionals it was designed to attract.

The Nursing Organization, which represents 300,000 members, officially rejected the offer, stating it would not seek special privileges while the public is silenced.

In a similar act of protest, Iran's Graphic Designers Society refused to make collective requests for the connection.

People called the tiered plan deeply "discriminatory" and an infringement on basic civil rights.

This moral opposition underscores the deep-seated resentment toward the government's digital segregation.

The economic fallout is further complicating the regime's strategy as the prolonged shutdown continues to strain national stability.

Digital rights organizations report that the continued restrictions are causing massive financial losses, with some estimates exceeding $1.5 million per hour.

These economic pressures have stalled domestic and foreign investment and are pushing countless small and medium-sized digital businesses toward imminent collapse.

While a limited group has selective access to the digital world, the broader Iranian public and its economy remain effectively trapped in the dark.