Iran to restore internet access for companies within two days, an official said on Monday, following a shutdown imposed on January 8 to curb protests. The shutdown, which cut off the entire country from the global internet for 18 days, has cost the Iranian economy an estimated 2.5‑3.3 million euros a day, according to the telecom minister, and more than 31 million euros a day according to the cyber‑security watchdog NetBlocks. The move is seen as an attempt to hide a violent crackdown that has killed thousands of demonstrators. The official, Mehr Hossein Rafieian, noted that the decision to restore service for businesses is not under his direct authority but is being pursued through consultations with relevant authorities. The shutdown has also hampered journalists’ ability to report locally on the regime’s repression. The protests, sparked by an economic crisis and triggered by shop owners in December, reached a peak on January 8 and represent the biggest challenge to the Islamic Republic since its founding in 1979.

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