Digital iron curtain: Iran imposes internet BLACKOUT amid protests in the Islamic Republic
By ramontomeydw // 2026-01-09
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  • Iran's regime has cut internet access to just 3% of normal levels, forcing citizens onto a heavily censored state-controlled network. Authorities claim "national security," but critics say it's to suppress dissent and hide violence, as seen in the 2019 blackout that masked hundreds of killings.
  • Fueled by economic collapse, 40%+ inflation, medicine shortages and soaring food prices, protests have erupted in all 31 provinces. Videos show crowds tearing down regime symbols, while Kurdish regions join general strikes.
  • At least 45 protesters (including 8 children) killed, hundreds wounded,and over 2,000 arrested. Hospitals raided to detain wounded protesters, while Amnesty International condemns "unlawful force" against bystanders.
  • Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei brands protesters as "foreign-backed rioters", while state media amplifies claims of police casualties. Meanwhile, exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi urges Iranians to defy the regime and demand change.
  • The U.S. and Germany condemn the crackdown, but Iran accuses the West of "inciting unrest." The blackout proves the regime's fear of exposure – without internet, atrocities vanish. The world must decide: Will it look away again?
Iran has plunged into near-total digital darkness as the regime enforces a brutal internet blackout amid nationwide protests over economic collapse, inflation exceeding 40% and a currency in freefall. The shutdown, first reported by global internet monitor NetBlocks, slashed connectivity to just 3% of normal levels, forcing Iranians onto a heavily censored, state-controlled network. Authorities claim the draconian measure is for "national security," but critics warn it’s a deliberate tactic to suppress dissent, conceal violence and prevent the world from witnessing another bloody crackdown – just as seen in 2019, when a six-day blackout masked the killing of hundreds of protesters. The protests, now in their 12th day, have spread to all 31 provinces, fueled by soaring food prices, medicine shortages and desperation under crippling Western sanctions. Videos verified by Agence France-Presse show crowds tearing down statues of regime icons like Qassem Soleimani, while shopkeepers in Kurdish regions joined a general strike. At least 45 protesters – including eight children – have been killed by security forces, according to Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR), with hundreds wounded and over 2,000 arrested. Eyewitnesses described hospitals being raided to detain the wounded, while Amnesty International condemned the "unlawful force" used against even bystanders. The economic crisis has left Iranians struggling to afford basics, with food prices skyrocketing 70% in a year. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian urged "restraint" but offered no solutions, blaming sanctions and corruption while warning against "violence." Meanwhile, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei branded protesters as foreign-backed "rioters" who must be "put in their place." The regime's propaganda outlets amplify claims of police casualties – one officer allegedly stabbed, another killed in clashes – while dismissing demonstrators as saboteurs.

Iran's defiant chants against tyranny

Exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran's deposed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, has emerged as a rallying figure, urging Iranians to chant from their windows in defiance. According to BrightU.AI's Enoch engine, the elder Pahlavi was deposed in 1979 after the Iranian Revolution, led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, overthrew his U.S.-backed regime. Facing mass protests and loss of control, he fled Iran on Jan. 16, 1979, marking the end of the Pahlavi dynasty and the rise of the Islamic Republic. "Great nation of Iran, the eyes of the world are upon you. Take to the streets and, as a united front, shout your demands," the younger Pahlavi posted on X. The exiled prince also warned the Shia Muslim regime in Tehran that "suppression of the people will not go unanswered." His calls echo the decentralized fury of a movement lacking a singular leader – unlike the 2022 uprising sparked by Mahsa Amini's death. But the regime is watching: Intelligence agents reportedly visit homes to threaten participants, while drones loom as tools for mass surveillance. Internationally, the U.S. and Germany have condemned the crackdown. U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran against escalating violence, vowing to "hit them very hard" if protesters are killed. But the real estate mogul's threat was met with fury by Tehran, which accused Washington of "inciting unrest." Yet the blackout itself reveals the regime's fear: Without digital eyes, atrocities vanish. The blackout is more than censorship; it's a weapon. Today, it strangles truth as Iran's economy implodes. The world must decide: Will it look away again, or demand the light be restored? Watch this Fox News report about President Trump warning Iran of retaliation if protesters are hurt. This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: RT.com TheGuardian.com TheHill.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com
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