ASIATODAY.ID, TEHRAN – Iran imposed a nationwide internet shutdown on Thursday as mass protests fueled by soaring living costs and a collapsing currency escalated across the country, according to global internet monitoring group NetBlocks.
The blackout comes amid the most widespread unrest Iran has seen in years, with demonstrations erupting in multiple cities since late December.
The protests were initially triggered by hyperinflation and a deepening economic crisis in the heavily sanctioned Islamic Republic, but have since evolved into broader political dissent.
NetBlocks reported a sudden and near-total loss of internet connectivity nationwide, though Iranian authorities have yet to provide an official explanation for the outage.
Protests Spread Nationwide, Death Toll Mounts
According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), protests have now entered their twelfth consecutive day and spread to all 31 provinces of Iran. Reports indicate that at least 21 people have been killed in clashes between demonstrators and security forces.
Some protesters have reportedly gone as far as calling for the restoration of the monarchy, a striking escalation in rhetoric not seen since the aftermath of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Violent confrontations have been reported in several cities. Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency released footage from Qazvin, appearing to show a brutal assault on a security officer. Tasnim claimed the officer was unarmed and had urged demonstrators to protest peacefully without damaging public property.
Exiled Royal Calls for More Protests
Adding fuel to the unrest, Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last Shah, issued a video message on X (formerly Twitter) calling on Iranians to continue protesting. His remarks have amplified tensions as authorities accuse foreign actors of stoking instability.
Meanwhile, videos circulating on social media — including footage shared by AFP — show violent clashes spreading to new areas, underscoring the scale and intensity of the uprising.
Government Issues Warnings, Supreme Leader Takes Hard Line
President Masoud Pezeshkian attempted to address public anger by warning domestic suppliers against hoarding and price manipulation. State media quoted him as urging authorities to ensure adequate supplies of essential goods and to tighten nationwide price controls.
However, Iran’s top leadership has adopted a far harsher tone. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared that rioters must be “put in their place,” while the country’s chief justice accused demonstrators of “operating in line” with the United States and Israel.
A Digital Curtain Falls
The internet shutdown is widely seen as an attempt to curb the spread of protest coordination and limit the flow of information to the outside world — a tactic Iran has used during previous waves of unrest.
As the digital curtain falls, uncertainty looms over how far the protests will go, and how forcefully the authorities will respond in the days ahead. (RT)
Follow Us at Google News and WA Channel