Iran's international internet traffic has risen marginally from around 1% to 2-3% of normal levels over the past 48 hours but remains effectively cut off from the global web, Eghtesad Online reported on April 13, citing data from Cloudflare Radar.

The monitoring platform's traffic charts show a pattern of minimal fluctuations, with brief spikes at certain hours that quickly return to baseline levels, rather than the sustained upward trend that would indicate a genuine restoration of service.

Network experts cited in the report described the pattern as evidence of "controlled access" rather than a real return of internet connectivity. The limited traffic is believed to flow through restricted channels such as whitelisted connections, government services and designated organisational links, while public access to the global internet remains severely curtailed.

Iran's international internet traffic collapsed to around 1% of normal levels following a widespread shutdown in late February, coinciding with the outbreak of hostilities. The data from April 13 and 14 shows some signs of limited increase but no meaningful change in public access.

The findings come as Iranian business leaders and chambers of commerce have grown increasingly vocal about the economic toll of the internet restrictions. The Isfahan and Tehran chambers have both warned in recent sessions that shutdowns are costing the digital economy tens of millions of dollars per day and threatening hundreds of thousands of jobs in online businesses.

Iran's National Cyberspace Centre has said the restrictions are driven by electronic security concerns during the conflict, with a directive establishing channels for the private sector to apply for internet access through the Iran Chamber of Commerce and other bodies.