Iranian authorities have dismissed the chief executive of the country’s second-largest telecommunications operator after he reportedly refused to comply with orders to block internet access during nationwide unrest, according to state-linked media.
The Iranian news agency Fars reported on Sunday that Ali Reza Rafiei, CEO of Irancell, was removed from his post for failing to implement government directives to restrict internet access during a period described by officials as a crisis.
Iran experienced a near-total internet blackout on the night of January 8, as protests spread across several cities following weeks of demonstrations triggered by worsening living conditions and rising prices. The unrest, which began in late December, resulted in fatalities in some areas, prompting authorities to impose sweeping communication restrictions.
Since the shutdown, access to the global internet has been largely unavailable, although limited services began to return on Sunday. Iranian media reported that the government plans to restore internet connectivity gradually across the country.
Fars said Rafiei had been in his position for about a year and was dismissed because Irancell did not comply with official instructions related to limiting internet access during emergencies. The agency quoted sources as saying that relevant authorities decided to remove the executive for violating crisis-management regulations.
State television later reported that access to certain Google services had been restored on Sunday through all mobile networks and internet service providers in Iran, suggesting a partial easing of restrictions.
Founded in 2005, Irancell claims to serve around 70 million subscribers, making it a critical component of Iran’s digital infrastructure. The dismissal highlights the government’s firm stance on enforcing information controls during periods of political instability and underscores the broader debate over internet governance and digital freedoms in the country.
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