Iranians have begun to regain internet access after a months-long shutdown that followed nationwide protests and military actions. While connectivity has improved to about 86% of pre-shutdown levels, users report slow and unreliable service, with internet traffic only reaching 40% of normal levels. The government initially justified the blackout as a military necessity following attacks by the U.S. and Israel. Many residents fear that access could be restricted again at any moment. The prolonged internet outage, one of the longest in the world, has had a devastating impact on the economy, costing an estimated $30-40 million daily. Job losses have been widespread, particularly among young people reliant on online platforms for their livelihoods. Although prices for internet access have decreased from exorbitant rates during the shutdown, heavy censorship remains, particularly on social media platforms, forcing many users to rely on costly virtual private networks (VPNs). As businesses slowly return online, many content creators have reported significant declines in audience engagement and income.