Iranian Judiciary Cancels President Bezhikian's Internet Restoration Order

The Iranian judiciary revoked a decision issued by President Masoud Bezhikian to reinstate internet service, less than a day after it was announced, according to reports from Agence France-Presse.

On Monday, Bezhikian directed the restoration of international internet connectivity to its status prior to January, as stated by his official spokesperson. This followed approval by the "Cyber Space Leadership and Regulation Authority," also known as the "Special Cyber Space Management Team," chaired by First Deputy Mohammad Reza Aref. The authority's fourth meeting concluded with a vote of nine in favor and three against the restoration.

The directive was forwarded to the Ministry of Communications for immediate implementation. However, on Tuesday, the Iranian judiciary issued an urgent ruling suspending the activities of the presidential authority responsible for ordering the internet service reinstatement. This came after the near-total internet blackout that has persisted since the onset of the U.S.-Israeli conflict.

According to Agence France-Presse, the judicial decision targeted the "Special Authority for Cyber Space Regulation and Management," an entity established by Bezhikian on May 12 of this year.

Media outlets affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard promptly questioned the president's authority to issue such a decision, asserting that internet restrictions were imposed by the Supreme National Security Council and can only be lifted with its consent.

Previously, members of parliament criticized the formation of the new presidential authority, deeming it inconsistent with the seventh development plan and an overreach beyond the powers of the Supreme Cyber Space Council.

Authorities imposed stringent limitations on international internet access following widespread public protests triggered by severe inflation and currency collapse at the end of last year. These restrictions were fully reinstated on February 28 amid escalating military tensions with the United States and Israel, resulting in the longest internet outage in modern Iranian history, lasting over 90 days.