Internet and Cell Networks Shut Down Amid Widespread Iran Protests
Iranian authorities have moved to restrict internet and cellular access across major cities as anti-government protests continue to spread nationwide, a tactic widely viewed as an effort to disrupt coordination among demonstrators and control the flow of information leaving the country.
Reports from inside Iran indicate intermittent to near-total shutdowns of mobile data, messaging platforms, and social media services. In some regions, even basic voice calls have been disrupted. The measures mirror previous crackdowns during periods of unrest, but their scope and timing suggest heightened concern within the ruling establishment about the protests’ momentum.
A Familiar Tool of Repression
Internet blackouts have become a recurring feature of Iran’s internal security playbook. During past uprisings—most notably in 2019 and 2022—authorities throttled or cut connectivity to prevent protesters from organizing and to limit the circulation of videos documenting security force actions.
Human rights organizations argue that such shutdowns function as collective punishment, isolating civilians from emergency services, disrupting commerce, and preventing independent verification of events on the ground. The United Nations has repeatedly warned that communication blackouts during civil unrest often coincide with increased use of force by state actors.
Protests That Span Generations
The current demonstrations reflect deep, long-standing grievances against clerical rule. Protesters reportedly include teenagers who have lived only under the Islamic Republic, middle-aged Iranians burdened by economic decline, and older citizens who remember Iran before the 1979 revolution.
Women have again emerged as central figures in the unrest, with images circulating—when connectivity briefly allows—of public hijab burnings and chants calling for an end to the regime. Protesters have also waved the pre-revolutionary lion-and-sun flag, a symbol banned by the state but increasingly embraced by demonstrators as a marker of national identity separate from the Islamic Republic.
International Attention—and Silence
The shutdowns come amid renewed international attention on Iran, particularly following comments by Donald Trump, who urged Iranian citizens to continue protesting and “take over your institutions.” While supporters praised the remarks as moral clarity, critics warned they could be used by Tehran to frame the protests as foreign-backed interference.
At the same time, observers note a relative quiet in Western capitals and major media outlets compared with responses to other global protest movements. Iran remains officially designated by the United States as the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, yet the plight of its own citizens—facing mass arrests, executions, and now digital isolation—has struggled to command sustained attention.
Why Connectivity Matters
Access to the internet is not merely a convenience in moments like these; it is a lifeline. Connectivity allows protesters to share information, document abuses, contact loved ones, and appeal to the international community. Cutting those links places the state in near-total control of the narrative inside its borders.
Digital rights advocates warn that Iran’s actions also set a precedent. As governments worldwide grapple with dissent in an increasingly connected age, the normalization of internet shutdowns risks becoming a broader tool of authoritarian control.
What Comes Next
Whether the shutdowns succeed in slowing the protests remains unclear. Past experience suggests they may delay coordination but often deepen public anger and mistrust. For many Iranians, the willingness of the state to isolate an entire nation to preserve power underscores the very grievances driving people into the streets.
As events unfold—often beyond the reach of cameras and live feeds—the question facing the international community is not only how Iran’s leadership will respond, but whether the world will continue to look away while a nation is plunged into digital darkness.