The Tehran Electronic Commerce Association called on April 12 for the immediate and full restoration of internet services, saying stable connectivity is "an essential prerequisite for the return of economic prosperity and hope to society", the group said in a strongly worded statement. 

The continued disruption to internet services is hitting Iran's growing digital economy, which encompasses ride-hailing, food delivery, e-commerce and online banking. Millions of Iranians depend on app-based services for daily transactions, and the restrictions have compounded the economic damage from the war itself. 

In a statement, the association said online businesses and digital economy operators had "deployed all their capacity to remain accessible to the public" despite internet shutdowns and communications restrictions imposed during the war.

Iranian authorities activated the so-called criticised "National Internet", which becomes activated when a threat to the state occurs or in the event of war. In this instance, according to internet rights groups, Iran has remained disconnected from the global World Wide Web, remaining online only with local servers.

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have also been massively throttled this time round, with the majority of providers unable to connect as Iranian authorities continue to play cat and mouse with independent providers who were able to move around internet blocks. 

"The right to internet access, beyond daily needs, has a direct impact on the livelihoods, employment and income generation of a large part of society," the statement said. "Communications restrictions must be lifted as quickly as possible so that no further damage is inflicted on household economies and the private sector."

The association praised digital businesses for maintaining services around the clock during the conflict, calling their efforts "another trench of responsibility," with banking services internally remaining active despite Israeli airstrikes on banking IT infrastructure. 

"The ceasefire has been established, but what will remain in our collective memory from these days is a difficult shared experience of resilience and steadfastness," the statement said.

Iran restricted internet access shortly after the war began on February 28, a tactic authorities have used during previous crises, including the 2019 and 2022 protest movements. The wartime restrictions were more extensive, with reports of near-total shutdowns in some areas.

The call adds to mounting pressure from the business community for a return to normal economic conditions. Private banks resumed full services on April 12 and tax deadlines have been extended to May 21.

Other areas of the Iranian economy that remain offline include the stock exchange, which remains closed until an unspecified date and airlines and airport infrastructure, which were heavily damaged in Israeli strikes.