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An 88-day blackout in Iran ends… Behind the scenes of the longest digital isolation in modern history

An 88-day blackout in Iran ends… Behind the scenes of the longest digital isolation in modern history

2026-05-27

Shafaq News – Follow-up
The Iranian street breathed a sigh of relief after 88 days of total digital isolation, as global internet service began to flow again on lines and phones, thus closing the chapter on the longest and strangest period of network outage the world has witnessed in its modern history.

The global network began to return slowly and gradually since Tuesday evening (May 26, 2026), and on Wednesday most of the telecommunications companies, mobile phone providers and landlines in Iran have fully restored their connection to the international system. Read more…

Iran: Internet restored to its previous state after months of restrictions

Iran: Internet restored to its previous state after months of restrictions

2026-05-26

Shafaq News – Tehran
On Monday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian instructed the Ministry of Communications to restore the global internet to its state before the outbreak of protests and security tensions last January.

The decision comes after a period of widespread restrictions on access to the international network that lasted for about 87 days, according to Iranian media Read more…

Tehran is negotiating over its frozen assets; Qatari mediation aims to resolve the final obstacle with Washington.

Tehran is negotiating over its frozen assets; Qatari mediation aims to resolve the final obstacle with Washington.

2026-05-26

Shafaq News – Doha
Iran’s Tasnim news agency quoted a source close to the Iranian negotiating team on Tuesday as saying that the release of about $24 billion of frozen Iranian funds is one of the most prominent items on the agenda of the memorandum of understanding being negotiated between Tehran and Washington.

According to the source, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf traveled to the Qatari capital, Doha, Read more…

Trump: Either the deal with Iran is great, or we won’t make a deal.

Trump: Either the deal with Iran is great, or we won’t make a deal.

2026-05-25

Shafaq News – Washington
US President Donald Trump asserted on Monday that the agreement with Iran must be “great” or it will not happen.

Trump said in a post on Truth Social that “the deal with Iran will either be a great and meaningful deal, or there will be no deal.”

He added, “This would be the opposite of the disastrous Iran nuclear deal negotiated by the failed Obama Read more…

Iran’s Supreme Leader gives green light for agreement with Washington

Iran’s Supreme Leader gives green light for agreement with Washington

2026-05-24

Shafaq News – Washington
A US official revealed on Sunday that reaching a final agreement with Iran next Sunday seems unlikely, while noting that Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has approved the latest agreement.

The official told the American website Axios that “there are files and formulations that still need to be resolved between the two sides,” indicating that “some phrases are of great importance to the United States, while Iran adheres to other formulations.”

He added that “the current disagreements revolve around Read more…

Washington: The world will hear good news about Hormuz within hours.

Washington: The world will hear good news about Hormuz within hours.

2026-05-24

Shafaq News – New Delhi
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Sunday that significant progress had been made in the past 48 hours regarding the Strait of Hormuz crisis, suggesting that “good news” would soon be forthcoming in cooperation with the Gulf states.

Rubio said during a joint press conference with his Indian counterpart in New Delhi that “there is progress on the outlines that may contribute to resolving the Strait of Hormuz crisis,” stressing Read more…

Hopes for a US-Iranian deal are putting pressure on the dollar and supporting the toman.

Hopes for a US-Iranian deal are putting pressure on the dollar and supporting the toman.

2026-05-24

Shafaq News – Tehran
The US dollar fell against the Iranian toman on Sunday, amid rising expectations that an agreement or temporary understanding between Iran and the United States could be reached in the coming hours.

The price of 100 dollars reached about 16.8 million tomans in wholesale transactions, while it recorded 16.7 million tomans in individual transactions, indicating that one dollar was trading between 167,000 and Read more…

Trump: The final decision on Iran may be made tomorrow.

Trump: The final decision on Iran may be made tomorrow.

2026-05-23

Shafaq News – Washington
On Saturday, US President Donald Trump revealed his hesitation between moving towards a new agreement with Tehran or launching a military strike against it.

Trump told Axios that he would hold a meeting today with his top advisers to discuss the latest draft of the agreement with Iran, noting that a final decision could be made tomorrow.

He added that he would later meet with envoy Steve Wittkopf, along with Read more…

CBS: Trump will launch strikes against Iran within the next 72 hours

CBS: Trump will launch strikes against Iran within the next 72 hours

2026-05-23

Shafaq News – Washington
CBS News reported on Saturday that President Donald Trump, the Pentagon, and intelligence agencies are preparing to resume military strikes on Iran within the next 72 hours.

The network quoted informed sources as saying: “As of Friday evening, no final decision had been made regarding the possibility of launching new strikes.”

The sources added that some military and intelligence leaders cancelled their plans for Memorial Day weekend Read more…

In revenge for Soleimani: An Iraqi plot to assassinate Ivanka Trump has been revealed.

In revenge for Soleimani: An Iraqi plot to assassinate Ivanka Trump has been revealed.

2026-05-23

Shafaq News – Translation
An American report revealed a plot to assassinate Ivanka Trump, the daughter of the current US president, noting that the leader of Kataib Hezbollah, Muhammad Baqir al-Saadi, was behind it, in revenge for the killing of the commander of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Qassem Soleimani, in an American strike near Baghdad airport in 2020.

The New York Post reported, in a report translated by Shafaq News Agency, that Al-Saadi, 32, pledged to the Iranian Read more…

Contrary to what is being reported in the media, this is a “last chance” for Iran, and Trump’s response is coming.

Contrary to what is being reported in the media, this is a “last chance” for Iran, and Trump’s response is coming.

2026-05-23

Shafaq News – Washington/ Mustafa Hashim
Tom Harb, director of the American Middle East Coalition for Democracy and a prominent member of the Republican Party, revealed on Saturday details that contradicted recent reports about reaching a preliminary agreement or outlines for a new agreement between the United States and Iran, describing the reports on this matter as “lacking any credibility and falling within the realm of evasions.”

Harb clarified this in a special statement to Shafaq News Agency, in response to media reports and speculations Read more…

Tehran and Washington continue exchanging messages, and two issues are hindering the completion of the agreement.

Tehran and Washington continue exchanging messages, and two issues are hindering the completion of the agreement.

2026-05-22

Shafaq News – Tehran
Iranian sources revealed on Friday that messages were still being exchanged between Tehran and Washington, amid indications of progress in the negotiations over the past two days.

The Iranian news agency Fars quoted informed sources as saying that “the United States is still seeking to reach a comprehensive agreement with Iran on all contentious issues at the present stage, while Tehran insists on postponing Read more…

“Good signs”: Rubio announces progress in negotiations with Iran

“Good signs”: Rubio announces progress in negotiations with Iran

2026-05-21

Shafaq News – Washington
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday that Pakistani officials would be traveling to Iran that night, referring to Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir, and confirmed that “some progress” had been made in the negotiations and that there were some “good signs”.

Rubio stated in remarks followed by Shafaq News Agency, “We have made some progress in the negotiations with Iran, but we are dealing with a fractured regime Read more…

Iran: 30 ships coordinate with the Revolutionary Guard to cross the Strait of Hormuz

Iran: 30 ships coordinate with the Revolutionary Guard to cross the Strait of Hormuz

2026-05-21

Shafaq News – Tehran
Iranian television announced on Thursday that the owners and captains of 30 ships are coordinating with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s naval force to cross the Strait of Hormuz, amid escalating tensions in the region.

Iranian television reported that “the owners and captains of 30 ships have been coordinating with the Revolutionary Guard’s naval force to cross the Strait of Hormuz since last night until now,” indicating that “it is very likely that the 30 ships will cross the strait by this Read more…

Putin: Russia and China conclude a broad package of agreements and shift almost all trade to rubles and yuan

Putin: Russia and China conclude a broad package of agreements and shift almost all trade to rubles and yuan

2026-05-20

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the signing of a broad package of agreements with China covering governmental, trade and administrative areas, noting that the two countries have switched to conducting their trade transactions in national currencies. In a press conference following talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing and the signing of the package of Read more…

UAE: Drones that targeted the Barakah nuclear power plant were launched from Iraq

UAE: Drones that targeted the Barakah nuclear power plant were launched from Iraq

2026-05-19

Shafaq News – Abu Dhabi
The UAE Ministry of Defense announced on Tuesday that it had detected and dealt with six hostile drones in the past 48 hours that attempted to target civilian and vital areas, confirming that the drones that targeted the Barakah nuclear power plant came from Iraq.

The UAE’s state news agency WAM quoted the ministry as saying that Read more…

The G7 emphasizes the need to reopen the Strait of Hormuz

The G7 emphasizes the need to reopen the Strait of Hormuz

2026-05-19

Shafaq News – Paris
The G7 nations affirmed on Tuesday the “urgent need” to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, reiterating their commitment to maintaining the stability of global energy markets amid escalating tensions in the region.

In a joint statement issued during their meeting in Paris, the group’s finance ministers said that Read more…

Iranian media: Tehran’s new proposal to end the war consists of 14 points.

Iranian media: Tehran’s new proposal to end the war consists of 14 points.

2026-05-18

Shafaq News – Tehran
Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported on Monday that Tehran had submitted, through Pakistani mediation, a new negotiating text containing 14 points, as part of ongoing talks with the United States.

The agency quoted a source close to the negotiating team as saying that the new Iranian text focuses on negotiations to Read more…

Washington: Operation “Epic Wrath” against Iran has ended

Washington: Operation “Epic Wrath” against Iran has ended

2026-05-17

Shafaq News – Washington
US House Speaker Mike Johnson announced on Sunday the end of “Operation Epic Wrath” against Iran.

Fox News quoted Johnson as saying that the United States is working on a project to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

On Saturday, US President Donald Trump posted a message on Truth Social hinting at an impending Read more…

Iran: Washington responded to the proposed agreement with 5 conditions

Iran: Washington responded to the proposed agreement with 5 conditions

2026-05-17

Shafaq News – Tehran
On Sunday, the Iranian Fars News Agency revealed Washington’s conditions in its response to the proposed agreement.

The agency said that “Washington stipulated that a ceasefire in all areas be contingent upon Read more…