ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iran’s judiciary on Tuesday temporarily suspended the presidential body tasked with managing the country’s internet, coming hours after it moved toward lifting internet restrictions, citing complaints seeking the “annulment of the executive regulations” establishing the body.

Iranian state media reported on Tuesday that international internet access has been restored for some users. 

In mid-May, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced that he had ordered the first vice president to “fulfill public expectations,” citing internet disruptions in the country since the February war, while taking into account the “sensitivities of governance” and the leadership's opinion on the matter.

The developments come as Iranian authorities on Monday approved the restoration of international internet access during a meeting of the special committee overseeing cyberspace regulation. The measure was passed to Pezeshkian’s office with 9 votes in favor and 3 against for final approval before implementation.

As semi-official media on Tuesday reported that internet restrictions could be lifted within 24 hours for the public, the judiciary issued a statement, temporarily suspending the body in charge. 

“With the filing of complaints against the resolution establishing the ‘Special Headquarters for Organizing and Managing the Country’s Cyberspace,’ approved by the president on May 12, the Administrative Court of Justice issued a temporary order suspending its implementation until the complaints are fully reviewed,” the judiciary said on Tuesday.

The judiciary stressed that, under the law, when complaints seek the annulment of executive regulations, the specialized judicial body may, if necessary and urgent, issue a temporary order suspending implementation of the contested regulation before reviewing the complaint.

“The hearing of the complaint for the annulment of the document establishing the Special Headquarters for Organizing and Managing the Country's Cyberspace is being conducted out of turn,” the top administrative court of justice said. 

However, First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said on Tuesday, in line with the president’s order, “the first step toward free and regulated access to cyberspace has been taken.”

“With the reopening of the internet, smart services will be streamlined, the demands of the people who have thus stood by the system and Iran will be fulfilled, and the obstacles to knowledge-based development and scientific authority will be removed,” Aref said. 

The developments have once again highlighted tensions between Iran’s hardline and moderate factions since the outbreak of the February war over internal governance.

Internet watchdog NetBlocks reported Tuesday that live metrics showed a “partial restoration of internet connectivity in Iran” following an 88-day blackout of international access.

It described the disruption as the “longest nationwide internet shutdown in modern history,” adding that it was unclear whether the restoration would be sustained.

The Islamic republic widely uses internet crackdowns and restrictions on international online platforms, especially during periods of heightened tensions and protests, to control the flow of news.

In Iran, access to international online services is restricted under the User Protection Bill (Tarhe-Sianat), which was passed by parliament in 2021. The bill was initially approved but later revoked due to unclear procedural issues, though the majority of social media platforms remain banned.

In December 2024, Iran lifted bans on two major international online platforms after Pezeshkian introduced a new approach to social media restrictions amid rising public dissatisfaction.