Iran Hit by Internet Blackout as Protests Escalate

As nationwide protests in Iran escalate, the government has implemented a near-total internet blackout to sever the country from the outside world and stifle the growing unrest.

These demonstrations, which began with shopkeepers and merchants protesting a devastating economic crisis characterized by a currency that has lost half its value and inflation exceeding 40%, have rapidly spread to universities and provincial cities, transforming into direct political defiance with slogans targeting Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Video evidence shows buildings, vehicles, and public infrastructure ablaze in several cities, with state media broadcasting scenes resembling a “war zone” and blaming exiled opposition groups for the violence, while rights organizations report security forces firing upon protesters, resulting in dozens of deaths.

In a televised address, Khamenei vowed the Islamic Republic would not retreat, framing the protestors as vandals and agents of the United States and foreign adversaries, even as the judiciary promised “decisive” and harsh punishment for rioters.

The fragmented external opposition, including the exiled son of the former Shah and groups like the MKO, has called for continued protests, though their actual support within Iran remains unclear, and the situation presents a critical challenge to the authorities amid the compounding pressures of economic collapse, regional tensions, and a populace increasingly willing to voice political dissent openly on the streets.