Iran internet blackout amid nationwide anti-government protests
Iran has been plunged into a nationwide internet blackout as anti-government protests continue to spread across the country, marking a significant escalation in unrest that has gripped the Islamic Republic in recent weeks. Authorities largely cut off internet and mobile communications from Thursday evening, a move confirmed by digital monitoring groups and eyewitnesses, as demonstrations entered their 12th and 13th day amid deep economic frustration and rising calls for political change. The blackout has made it difficult for journalists to report from inside the country and for people to share footage and information online as events unfold.
The protests began in late December 2025, triggered initially by Iran’s collapsing currency, soaring inflation and shortages of essential goods, but have since evolved into a broader anti-government movement involving people from all walks of life in more than 100 cities, including major hubs like Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan and Shiraz. Demonstrators have taken to the streets to demand reform and express deep dissatisfaction with the ruling clerical establishment, with footage circulating online before the blackout showed large crowds, fiery clashes with security forces, blocked roads and burning objects in urban centres.
The government’s decision to cut internet access comes as protests show no signs of subsiding despite heavy crackdowns by security forces. Rights groups and internet monitoring organisations reported that internet traffic plunged sharply, with advanced mobile connectivity reduced by nearly 98 percent, effectively isolating Iran from the outside world and disrupting internal communications.
The blackout has drawn international concern, with human rights organisations warning that such measures suppress freedom of information and hinder independent reporting. The communications shutdown also coincided with reports of dozens of deaths and thousands of arrests as security forces confronted demonstrators in an effort to quell dissent. State media has sought to downplay the scale of the unrest, but unverified videos shared before the blackout showed scenes of widespread street protests and confrontations that highlighted the intensity of the turmoil.
The situation remains fluid and tense as Iran’s population continues to challenge economic hardship and political repression, even as the government uses drastic measures like the internet blackout to control the narrative and limit the spread of information both domestically and beyond its borders.
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