U.S. News
Iran Internet Blackout Sparks Outrage and Warnings
Clear Facts
- Iran’s government has imposed a widespread internet blackout during ongoing protests in Tehran and across the country.
- At least 65 people have reportedly been killed and more than 2,300 have been arrested during the unrest.
- President Trump warned Iran’s leaders against using force on protesters and expressed concern for their safety.
Iran’s regime enacted a near-total internet shutdown to obscure security forces’ actions as anti-government protests escalated. The blackout reduced online access to below 2% of typical levels during the thirteenth day of unrest.
Rights organizations say lethal force has allegedly been used against demonstrators, with casualties reported and unrest spreading rapidly throughout the country.
“This is Iran’s war against its own population using digital means,” said NetBlocks CEO Alp Toker.
He added, “This was a piecemeal measure that eventually encompassed the entire country, with the government willing to use this kind of measure for an extended period of time.”
Toker explained, “There would be an attempt by the regime to cover up crimes that it may have committed, so this blackout could potentially last for days or weeks.”
Human Rights Activists in Iran reported the death toll had doubled since earlier in the week, and that demonstrations have reached at least 180 cities. Most casualties have been protesters, with thousands detained.
Amnesty International described a “deadly pattern of security forces unlawfully firing at, chasing, arresting and beating protesters.”
Toker said, “The single kill switch is the censorship mechanism that is centrally controlled by the regime, so there are no legal procedures or mechanisms for people to push back.”
He detailed, “We know now that they’ve centralized all of this into a one-step operation,” calling it “very much a top-down mechanism.”
He further stated, “It’s been in development since the Cold War, and it means they are able to triangulate the ground terminal in satellite transmissions. Some governments implement this kind of kill switch in their cyber operations rooms.”
NetBlocks has recorded this event as one of the most severe online restrictions in Iran to date.
Toker commented, “We are tracking near-total disconnection of internet service across Iran right now, and connectivity is below 2% of ordinary levels.”
He added, “This is a nationwide disruption that is impacting almost all services, all connectivity and all avenues of life, extending beyond just mobile phones and computers.”
“It’s impacting banks, essential services, and there’s very little communication within the country, so people are unable to reach the outside world and nobody has the ability to communicate,” he noted.
Limited methods of contact remain, mainly for those near borders or with banned satellite equipment, though the regime heavily restricts such options.
According to Toker, “These measures are typically imposed by the most authoritarian regimes, the most controlling governments that seek to silence and oppress their own populations.”
He recalled, “NetBlocks tracked very similar multi-week disruption in 2019, during which thousands were killed, and this was also done in 2022 when people were protesting the killing of Mahsa Amini.”
Recent days have seen the protests intensify, with reports of gunfire on the streets of Iran’s capital. The government’s actions suggest a heightened effort to prevent information from escaping.
President Trump cautioned Iran’s leaders against escalating violence. Speaking at the White House, he said Iran was in “big trouble.”
“I just hope the protesters in Iran are going to be safe, because that’s a very dangerous place right now,” Trump stated. “You’d better not start shooting, because we’ll start shooting, too.”
The U.S. maintains its encouragement of democracy movements within Iran.
Stay informed as these developments unfold, and stand for freedom and open communication.
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