Iran Enforces Nationwide Internet Blackout as Protests Surge Across 100 Cities Following Exiled Prince’s Call
Updated (3 articles)
Nationwide Internet Shutdown Leaves 85 Million Offline The Iranian government cut all domestic internet service and blocked international telephone dialing on the night of January 8‑9, affecting roughly 85 million users and preventing inbound calls from abroad [1][2][3]. NetBlocks and CloudFlare traced the outage to deliberate state interference, with director Alp Toker noting such blackouts precede anticipated lethal force [1]. The blackout did not fully stop street‑level video uploads, highlighting limits of the tactic [1].
Protests Expand to Over One Hundred Cities Amid Rising Death Toll Demonstrations erupted in more than 100 cities, from Tehran and Mashhad to Ilam, as markets and bazaars shut down in solidarity [1][2][3]. Iran Human Rights reports at least 45 protesters killed—including eight children—hundreds injured, and over 2,000 detained nationwide [1][2]. Security forces clashed with crowds, and reports of police casualties and an attack on a police station surfaced amid the crackdown [3].
Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi Mobilizes Demonstrators via Social Media On X, Reza Pahlavi urged Iranians to take to the streets at a coordinated time, framing the call as a challenge to the regime and soliciting Western support [1][2][3]. Slogans praising the former shah and demanding regime change echoed through the protests, reflecting both anti‑regime and nostalgic sentiments [3]. Pahlavi’s appeal coincided with the blackout, which he described as a deliberate effort to stifle organization [2].
Regime Suppresses Information, Emphasizes Subsidies While Deploying Security Measures State television omitted any mention of the outage, instead broadcasting messages about food subsidies and economic relief [2][1]. Hard‑line outlets hinted at drone surveillance and reported security incidents, including casualties among police forces [3]. Analysts warned the government lacks a credible political solution, relying on coercion as protests intensify [1].
Sources
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1.
CNN: Iran Experiences Nationwide Internet Blackout as Protests Spread and Pressure on Regime Grows – Details the blackout’s scope, casualty figures, Reza Pahlavi’s call, and analysts’ view of regime’s legitimacy crisis
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2.
King5: Iran Internet and Phones Cut as Exiled Prince’s Call Spurs Protests – Highlights the timing of the outage with Pahlavi’s appeal, state media silence, subsidy messaging, and international reactions including Trump’s warning
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3.
AP: Iran Internet Blackout Amid Protests Led by Exiled Crown Prince – Focuses on technical attribution of the outage, mass turnout, mixed protest slogans, security incidents, and the continued imprisonment of Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi
Timeline
Dec 2025 – Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi is arrested, drawing international condemnation and later becoming a rallying point for protests, as her son Ali Rahmani emphasizes the long‑standing demand for systemic change in Iran [2].
Early Jan 2026 – Iran’s central bank ends a program offering cheaper dollars, triggering sharp price hikes; shopkeepers in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar launch protests over currency volatility, prompting the government to announce cash handouts that officials admit cannot solve the crisis [1].
Jan 8, 2026 – Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi posts on X urging Iranians to take to the streets at a scheduled time; as crowds gather in Tehran and other cities, authorities cut internet service and international telephone lines, creating a nationwide blackout that isolates about 85 million people [1][2][3].
Jan 9, 2026 – Demonstrations spread to more than 100 cities, with markets and bazaars shutting down; human‑rights monitors record at least 45 protesters killed—including eight children—hundreds injured and over 2,000 detained, while state television ignores the outage and instead highlights food subsidies [1][3].
Jan 9, 2026 – NetBlocks director Alp Toker says “national blackouts are a common tactic when deadly force is anticipated,” NYU scholar Arang Keshavarzian warns the regime lacks a clear blueprint to resolve the crisis, former President Trump cautions Tehran of consequences if peaceful protesters are harmed, and Ali Rahmani reiterates his mother’s continued imprisonment [1][3][2].