Iran has imposed a nationwide internet blackout as anti-government protests intensify, cutting off the country from the outside world. The move came Friday as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned demonstrators as "vandals and rioters," while state media branded protesters "terrorist agents" from the United States and Israel.
The internet shutdown marks a dramatic escalation in the government's response to nearly two weeks of unrest that has spread across all 31 provinces. Human rights groups report authorities killed at least 65 people, with more than 2,300 detained since protests erupted in late December over Iran's economic crisis.
Khamenei, 86, vowed authorities would not back down against what he called "mercenaries for foreigners." He accused demonstrators of "ruining their own streets to make the president of another country happy." During his address, audience members chanted "death to America."
Severe punishment threatened
Judiciary chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei warned protesters would face "maximum" and "decisive" punishment "without any legal leniency."
State news agency Tasnim reported armed protesters shot dead multiple police officers.
Holly Dagras, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute, said the government implemented the internet blackout "to prevent the world from seeing the protests." She added: "Unfortunately, it also likely provided cover for security forces to kill protesters."
Economic collapse fuels anger
The protests began in Tehran's Grand Bazaar after the Iranian rial plunged to 1.42 million to the US dollar in late December, its lowest level ever. Inflation has rocketed to approximately 40 percent, with food prices soaring more than 70 percent over the past year.
President Masoud Pezeshkian pledged his administration would "not spare any effort for solving problems" with the economy. However, demonstrations have only intensified, with protesters chanting "death to the dictator" and "death to the Islamic Republic" in major cities including Tehran, Mashhad and Isfahan.
International warnings
US President Donald Trump stated on Truth Social that America "will come to their rescue" if Iran "violently kills peaceful protesters," adding: "We are locked and loaded and ready to go."
Sir Keir Starmer, along with France and Germany, condemned the killings and urged Tehran to exercise restraint.
The current unrest represents the most significant challenge to Iran's clerical leadership in years, occurring as the country faces mounting economic pressure and regional instability following June's conflict with Israel.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
