Iran Imposes Near-Total Communications Blackout as Deadly Protests Rock the Country

 

Iranian authorities have imposed a near-total communications blackout amid widespread anti-government protests across the country, severely restricting access to information and independent reporting.

Despite the shutdown, videos and eyewitness accounts emerging from inside Iran suggest that the ongoing unrest is among the deadliest the country has witnessed in more than a decade. Witnesses and rights advocates fear that as many as 3,000 people may have been killed since the protests began.

According to multiple accounts, security forces have been firing on unarmed protesters in several cities as demonstrations against the government intensified. Videos circulating online before the blackout show large crowds confronting armed forces, with gunfire reportedly heard in the background.

One protester, speaking anonymously due to security concerns, described the situation as dire. “The regime is on a killing spree,” the protester said.

The communications shutdown, which has affected internet access and mobile networks, has made it difficult to independently verify casualty figures or assess the full scale of the crackdown. However, human rights groups say the blackout appears aimed at suppressing the flow of information and limiting global scrutiny.

International observers have expressed growing concern over the situation, calling for restraint and urging Iranian authorities to respect the rights of peaceful protesters.

The protests have continued to draw global attention as calls mount for accountability, transparency, and the restoration of basic civil freedoms in Iran.