Iran Experiences Nationwide Internet Blackout Amid Escalating Protests
Protests Spread Across Multiple Cities
Thursday evening saw Iran plunged into a nationwide internet blackout as mass anti-government protests erupted across the country. Iranians took to the streets, chanting slogans against the ruling theocratic regime, driven by growing frustration over economic instability and security crackdowns. The blackout followed the outbreak of demonstrations in Tehran and other major cities, though it did not immediately halt the dissemination of protest videos, which have continued into the protests’ second week.
“National blackouts tend to be the regime’s go-to strategy when deadly force is about to get used against protesters,” said Alp Toker, director of cybersecurity watchdog NetBlocks, speaking to CNN. “The goal is to prevent the spread of news of what’s happening on the ground and also to limit international scrutiny.”
Protests Span Kurdish Regions to Northeastern Cities
From the Kurdish-majority region of Ilam, bordering Iraq, to Tehran and Mashhad in the northeast near the Afghan border, over 100 cities have witnessed demonstrations since the unrest began 12 days ago. Authorities have reverted to their established approach of enforcing strict measures without addressing the underlying grievances fueling public anger.
Casualties and Calls for Resistance
At least 45 protesters, including eight children, have been killed in the demonstrations, according to the Norway-based Iran Human Rights NGO (IHRNGO). The group also reported hundreds of injuries and over 2,000 detentions. Some protesters appeared to be responding to exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi’s call to action, with one slogan shouted in the videos being “This is the last battle, Pahlavi will return,” as analyzed by CNN.
“Take to the streets and, as a united front, shout your demands,” Pahlavi wrote on X, urging Iranians to join the protests. He added, “Rise Iran!”
State Media Reports Damage and Casualties
Iran state media claimed “scattered” protests occurred overnight in Tehran and other cities, reporting unspecified casualties and damage to public and private property. A Telegram post by IRIB on Friday morning shared footage of the protests’ aftermath in Tehran, showing burning bikes and cars, a charred bus, and a smashed subway entrance.
International Response
The unrest prompted US President Donald Trump to reiterate his threat of military action against Iran. “I have let them know that if they start killing people, which they tend to do during their riots … we’re going to hit them very hard,” Trump told radio host Hugh Hewitt on Thursday.
