Iran Seals Its Borders Online as Protests Escalate Nationwide

 

        Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei waves in his meeting with a group of students in Tehran.

Iran found itself largely cut off from the outside world on Friday after authorities imposed a sweeping internet blackout aimed at containing rapidly expanding anti‑government protests. Phone calls failed to connect, flights were cancelled, and even domestic news sites updated only sporadically as the government tightened control over information flows.

The unrest, which began late last month over soaring inflation, has since grown into the country’s largest wave of demonstrations in three years, with reports of protests in every province and dozens of deaths documented by rights groups. Images circulating before the blackout showed fires burning in major cities and crowds confronting security forces.

In a televised address, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused demonstrators of acting on behalf of foreign adversaries, warning that Tehran would not tolerate attacks on public property. He described the unrest as part of a broader effort to destabilize the Islamic Republic.

Opposition figures abroad urged Iranians to continue demonstrating despite the blackout, calling the moment a critical test of the government’s grip on power.

As the communications shutdown continues, the full scale of the unrest remains difficult to assess, leaving the world watching through a narrowing window.