Iran Faces Nationwide Internet Blackout Amid Protests
Observers from around the globe reported that Iran experienced a significant internet blackout on Thursday. This alarming development suggests that the Iranian government, gripped by fear, may be gearing up for more violent actions as protests enter their second week.
The Internet Traffic Monitoring Group, NetBlocks, noted a steep decline in Iranian internet usage. This drop happened just as a major demonstration was set to commence, coinciding with plummeting temperatures. NetBlocks described this blackout as an effort by the regime to suppress widespread protests while concealing reports of violence.
According to Ali Safavi from the Iranian National Council of Resistance (NCRI), connectivity issues were confirmed across Tehran and other cities around 1 p.m. local time. He mentioned that internet access was disrupted in regions such as Lodegan and Chaharmahal Bakhtiari, where clashes erupted.
Reports from the NCRI stated that seven individuals lost their lives in those cities due to gunfire from Revolutionary Guards and other security forces loyal to the supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. This brought the death toll from the ongoing protests to at least 44, according to their accounts.
“Millions of Iranians are taking to the streets from all directions, and more young people are sacrificing their lives for freedom,” Safavi conveyed.
Sources from CBS News and the Associated Press corroborated that communication was largely cut off in Tehran as crowds gathered for demonstrations. Notably, CBS lost contact with their source soon after reporting, indicating a possible escalation of the communication freeze.
The Associated Press added that both landline and mobile phone networks seemed to face outages on Thursday. In previous instances, such power cuts have been accompanied by severe governmental crackdowns.
This latest crackdown appears to stem from massive protests led by Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the last monarch, who was ousted during the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Some demonstrations included calls for restoring the monarchy, which, under the current regime, is a punishable offense.
In light of these events, Pahlavi remarked that the regime had resorted to cutting off all communication as millions demanded freedom, including internet and landline services. He suggested that the regime might also attempt to disrupt satellite signals.
Pahlavi further expressed his gratitude to President Trump for supporting demonstrators, urging other international leaders to speak out and take action for the Iranian people.
On Friday, he urged Trump to swiftly protect the protesters, stating, “As Iranians face live ammunition and a total communications blackout, they need immediate support.” He emphasized that the regime’s actions reflect its fear of losing power.
The Iranian Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) declared its intent to show no mercy to anyone standing in their way, accusing demonstrators of committing acts of defiance against the state.
Furthermore, state media increasingly referred to protesters as “terrorists,” with the Attorney General warning of severe consequences without legal leniency.
In a recent interview, President Trump reiterated his stance against the Iranian regime, warning that any violent crackdown on protesters would lead to serious repercussions for their government.
He noted that some fatalities in past protests might have been accidental and questioned the accountability for such instances, but he stressed that the regime would face consequences if significant numbers of protesters were harmed.
