Iran protests trigger communications blackout

Demonstrations flared after an appeal by exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi for a coordinated show of defiance, prompting gatherings in the capital Tehran and other urban centres. Within hours of the calls to mobilise, mobile networks faltered, fixed-line telephones fell silent in many neighbourhoods and international internet gateways went dark, a pattern that has become familiar during periods of heightened dissent.

Residents described chants echoing between apartment blocks after nightfall, with groups assembling at key junctions despite the communications blackout. Videos shared before connectivity dropped showed crowds waving flags and calling for political change. Emergency services and state media offered no immediate explanation for the outage, though authorities have previously argued that restrictions are imposed to preserve public order.

The scale and speed of the shutdown underscored the state’s readiness to deploy digital controls alongside policing measures. Iran has invested heavily in a “national information network” designed to keep domestic services running while severing access to the global internet. Past disruptions have varied in intensity, from throttling social platforms to near-total blackouts that last days.

Security forces were visible across Tehran, with checkpoints established on major arteries and armoured vehicles stationed near government buildings, witnesses said. Similar scenes were reported in provincial capitals, where rallies drew mixed crowds of students, shopkeepers and public-sector workers. Some businesses closed early as tensions rose.

The protests form part of a broader wave of discontent that has ebbed and surged across the Islamic Republic over the past several years, driven by a mix of economic strain, social restrictions and demands for accountability. Inflation has eroded purchasing power, unemployment among the young remains elevated and international sanctions continue to weigh on growth, sharpening public frustration.

By singling out a date for mass action, the exiled prince sought to give the movement a focal point. His message, circulated widely on encrypted platforms before the blackout, urged Iranians to reclaim public spaces peacefully. Supporters argue that symbolic coordination can overcome fear and fragmentation; critics question whether figures abroad can shape events on the ground.

The communications cutoff complicated efforts to assess the scale of the unrest. Technology groups that track connectivity reported abrupt drops in traffic beginning shortly after dusk, followed by intermittent restoration in limited areas. Human rights advocates warned that blackouts impede access to emergency assistance and obscure potential abuses, while businesses reliant on online payments reported losses.

Officials have repeatedly defended restrictions as temporary and targeted, saying they are necessary to counter disinformation and prevent violence. In previous episodes, authorities have paired digital controls with arrests of organisers and tighter supervision of universities. On Thursday night, state television carried routine programming, making no mention of the street scenes.

Diplomatic missions advised citizens to exercise caution, noting disruptions to communications and transport. Airlines continued operations, though road traffic thinned as the night wore on. Hospitals in Tehran reported no official surge in casualties, but independent verification was impossible amid the blackout.