Iranian authorities impose internet blackout amid widespread protests

Details: James Barton; Category: Regulation; 09 January 2026; 10226 views

Iran is suffering a nationwide internet shutdown imposed by the country’s top authorities amidst escalating protests in all 31 provinces of the country.

While the reasons behind the internet blackout were initially unclear, Reuters confirmed that it was ordered by Iran’s leaders in response to widespread unrest. Protests began among shopkeepers due to Iran’s spiralling economy; the Iranian rial lost half of its value against the dollar in 2025 while inflation has passed 40%.

However, the movement has gained momentum and its focus has shifted towards the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his ruling regime. With protesters publicly calling for Khamenei’s death, the leader has given a televised address denouncing the protests and accusing demonstrators of carrying out the agenda of opposition groups – including Iran’s exiled monarchy – and the United States.

The internet blackout has isolated Iran from the world at a point where the response to the protests had turned violent, with little information now leaving Iran and inbound phone calls being blocked. The Guardian reported the Norwegian NGO Iran Human Rights (IHR) as claiming that 45 protesters had been killed by Iran’s security forces since the protests began at the end of December.