Internet service in Iran has been cut or limited as deadly protests reach their potential

Iranian authorities appeared to shut down internet access on Thursday in the capital and other regions of the country en masse protests and chants against the government go ahead. Multiple sources in Tehran told CBS News that internet is down in the capital.

Monitoring organization NetBlocks said at around 8:30 local time in Iran that its live data “shows that #Iran is now in the midst of a nationwide internet blackout; this incident follows a series of escalating digital censorship measures targeting protests across the country and restricting the public’s right to communicate at a critical time.”

Another CBS News source in the capital said “there are huge crowds outside Tehran. It’s unprecedented,” and confirmed that the internet was down for many people in the city. He said some people, who have strong, reliable business accounts can still access the Internet. Not long after, that source was not found, suggesting more blackouts.

There were reports on social media, particularly by anti-government activists, that web services were also down or severely restricted in the cities of Esfahan, Lodegan, Abdanan, and parts of Shiraz.

The internet blackout came as Iranians began chanting out of windows against the regime, following a call by Iran’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, son of the US-backed shah, to make their voices heard at 8pm local time (noon Eastern). Analysts and insiders told CBS News that the response rate to Pahalvi’s phone call could determine whether he is murderous, 12 days of protests it erupts as previous rounds of unrest, or grows into a serious challenge to the government, and creates a potential wider collapse.

“All the big crowds in my area are Pahlavi and in many places my sources report the same thing – the pro-Pahlavi crowds are rampant, undeniably,” a source in Tehran told CBS News, calling them “kings who answer to Reza.”

So far, the riots have left at least 39 people dead, including at least four members of the security forces, and seen more than 2,260 others arrested, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency.

President Trump told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt on Thursday that his administration is monitoring the protests in Iran. He threatened to take drastic measures if the authorities kill the protesters.

“I told them that if they start killing people, which they usually do during their riots – they have a lot of riots – if they do, we will hit them hard,” said Mr.

Speaking to reporters Thursday at the White House, Vice President JD Vance said the US stands by anyone in Iran who holds a peaceful protest. Asked if the US would participate in any Israeli strikes on Iran, Vance called on Iran to have real talks with the US about its nuclear program.

“I’ll let the president talk about what we’re going to do in the future,” Vance said.

NetBlocks said earlier that “its data shows a loss of connectivity to #Iran internet provider TCI in the troubled city of Kermanshah as protests spread across the country in its 12th day; the incident comes amid rising casualties and indications of disruption in many regions.”

Iranian authorities often restrict or disable Internet access when they anticipate significant protests or other potentially disruptive events.

President Mahsoud Pezeshkian, seen as a reformer but subordinate to Iran’s longtime Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, pledged ahead of his 2024 election that he would liberalize the Internet and make more websites available. It remains strictly prohibited, however. Social media sites such as TikTok, Facebook and X are officially banned, as is access to US and European news sites, including CBS News.

Many young, tech-savvy Iranians have become adept at getting around the restrictions, but it’s a difficult process, and when the regime slows down internet speeds during politically sensitive times, the entire system can become ineffective.