Iran Protests Intensify Amid Nationwide Internet Blackout

Iran Protests Escalate as Internet Services Disrupted Nationwide

Protest activities in Iran have intensified, with authorities imposing internet restrictions across the country. Since Thursday night, January 8th, internet and telephone services have been disrupted in multiple regions.

The demonstrations, which began on December 28 last year, are now entering their second week. These protests were triggered by economic hardships and living difficulties faced by the Iranian people. According to statistics from a U.S.-based human rights news organization, at least 42 people have lost their lives in the protests so far. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has independently verified that at least 21 fatalities occurred.

On Thursday, Bloomberg attempted multiple times to contact individuals within Iran via landline and mobile phones but was unsuccessful. A resident of Tehran stated that phone calls either could not connect or were intermittent, while text messaging services were strictly limited.

It is common for Iranian authorities to implement internet restrictions during periods of social unrest as a measure to prevent the dissemination of images and information about the domestic situation. Videos shared by netizens on social media platforms X and Instagram on Thursday evening showed large crowds gathering in major streets across the capital, Tehran. In one video, hundreds of people were heard chanting slogans such as 'Down with the dictator.'

Another video, claimed to be from Isfahan city, appeared to show protesters toppling a sign at the entrance of a state television branch office, with flames visible in the background. However, Bloomberg was unable to verify the authenticity of these videos.

The ongoing protests have drawn significant attention internationally, with various global leaders and organizations expressing concerns over the situation. As tensions continue to rise, the world watches closely for further developments in this critical moment for Iran.