Additional Coverage:
- Iran cuts internet access as deadly protests spread (cbsnews.com)
Internet and Phone Services Cut in Iran Amid Deadly Anti-Government Protests
TEHRAN – Iranian authorities have implemented a widespread cut to internet and phone services across the capital and several other regions, as mass anti-government protests continue to escalate. Dozens of people have reportedly been killed and thousands arrested in the ongoing demonstrations.
Multiple sources within Tehran confirmed to CBS News that internet access was largely unavailable in the capital on Thursday. The NetBlocks monitoring organization corroborated these reports, stating that Iran was “now in the midst of a nationwide internet blackout,” a move that “hinders the public’s right to communicate at a critical moment.” Attempts to call landlines and mobile phones in Iran from Dubai were also unsuccessful, according to the Associated Press.
Security forces have clashed with protesters in various cities, deploying tear gas. A CBS News source in Tehran described “huge crowds out across Tehran. Unprecedented,” and confirmed the widespread internet outage, noting that only those with more robust business accounts could briefly access online services before the blackout appeared to widen, rendering the source unreachable.
Reports on social media from anti-regime activists indicated severe internet restrictions or outages in cities including Esfahan, Lodegan, Abdanan, and parts of Shiraz.
The communication blackouts coincided with a call from exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, son of the former U.S.-backed shah, for citizens to chant against the regime from their windows at 8 p.m. local time. Analysts believe the scale of the response to Pahlavi’s call could be a pivotal factor in determining whether the 12-day-old protests, which have already turned deadly, will dissipate or evolve into a significant challenge to the government, potentially triggering a broader crackdown.
The source in Tehran indicated that “all of the huge crowds in my neighborhood are pro-Pahlavi and from several areas my sources report the same – pro-Pahlavi crowds are prevailing, undeniably,” referring to it as “monarchists responding to Reza.”
The Human Rights Activists News Agency, based in the U.S., reports that the unrest has claimed at least 42 lives, including four members of the security services, and led to over 2,260 detentions.
President Trump addressed the protests on Thursday, telling conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt that his administration is closely monitoring the situation. He warned of severe action if Iranian authorities resort to killing protesters.
“I have let them know that if they start killing people… if they do it, we are going to hit them very hard,” Mr. Trump stated.
Speaking at the White House, Vice President JD Vance affirmed U.S. support for peaceful protesters in Iran. When asked about potential U.S. involvement in Israeli strikes on Iran, Vance urged Iran to engage in genuine negotiations with the U.S. regarding its nuclear program. “I’ll let the president speak to what we’re going to do in the future,” Vance commented.
Earlier, NetBlocks had reported a “loss of connectivity on #Iran internet backbone provider TCI in the restive city of Kermanshah as protests spread across the nation in their 12th day; the incident comes amid rising casualties with indications of disruptions in multiple regions.”
Iranian authorities have a history of restricting internet access during periods of significant protests or other potentially destabilizing events. Despite President Mahsoud Pezeshkian, considered a reformer, intimating during his 2024 election campaign that he would ease internet restrictions, access remains tightly controlled. Popular social media platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and X, along with U.S. and European news sites including CBS News, are officially banned.
While many young, tech-savvy Iranians have developed methods to circumvent these restrictions, the process is often cumbersome, and government-imposed internet slowdowns during politically sensitive times can render the entire system unusable.
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- Iran cuts internet access as deadly protests spread (cbsnews.com)