Iran cuts Internet nationwide amid deadly protest crackdown

Iran shut down the internet as protests spread nationwide. Dozens were killed in a violent crackdown amid soaring inflation and a collapsing currency.

Iran has shut down the internet nationwide as protests spread across multiple cities. Security forces responded with a violent crackdown that reportedly killed dozens.

Demonstrations continued despite the blackout, with shops closing in Tehran’s main bazaar and other cities. The unrest is fueled by soaring inflation and the collapse of Iran’s currency against the U.S. dollar, increasing pressure on the government.

Protests in Iran have shifted from economic to political, with chants against Supreme Leader Khamenei. After 12 days of unrest, authorities imposed a nationwide internet blackout to curb protests and information flow. Officials sent mixed signals: President Pezeshkian urged dialogue, while hard-liners warned of harsh punishment for dissent.

“Confirmed: Live metrics show #Iran is now in the midst of a nationwide internet blackout; the incident follows a series of escalating digital censorship measures targeting protests across the country and hinders the public’s right to communicate at a critical moment” reported independent and non-partisan global internet monitor NetBlocks.

“Update: #Iran has now been offline for 12 hours with national connectivity flatlining at ~1% of ordinary levels, after authorities imposed a nationwide internet blackout in an attempt to suppress sweeping protests while covering up reports of regime brutality”

Rights groups report a violent crackdown on largely peaceful protests in Iran. Amnesty says security forces used live weapons, tear gas, beatings, and carried out mass arbitrary arrests, while pressuring families to cover up killings. The Hengaw group reports 42 deaths, including six children. The violence has drawn international attention, with President Donald Trump warning of possible intervention if killings continue.

“People in Iran daring to express their anger at decades of repression and demand fundamental change are once again being met with a deadly pattern of security forces unlawfully firing at, chasing, arresting and beating protesters, in scenes reminiscent of the Woman Life Freedom uprising of 2022. Iran’s top security body, the Supreme National Security Council, must immediately issue orders for security forces to stop the unlawful use of force and firearms,” said Diana Eltahawy, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa.

I analyzed Tor Metrics data to see whether there were significant changes in the number of users accessing the Tor network from the beginning of the protests. The data confirm a smooth increase in the number of users who access the Tor network from the country.

The rise in Tor usage is a classic signal of a society under acute political and informational stress. When people perceive that ordinary channels are no longer safe or trustworthy, they move toward tools that offer anonymity, censorship‑resistance, and paths out of the national information bubble.

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Pierluigi Paganini

(SecurityAffairs – hacking, Iran)