Iran Hit By Nationwide Internet Blackout, 45 Killed, Amid Ongoing Massive Protests Over Economic Hardship

Iran experienced a nationwide internet blackout on Thursday as protests over economic hardship spread across all 31 provinces. Demonstrators have rallied against soaring food prices, a rapidly devaluing currency, and government mismanagement, while authorities have used force to try to suppress the unrest.

Eyewitnesses reported that security forces killed at least 45 protesters, including eight children, since the demonstrations began in late December, and hundreds more have been injured or arrested. In several cities, protesters toppled statues of revered figures, including former Revolutionary Guards commander Qassem Suleimani.

Shopkeepers in Kurdish regions and dozens of other cities heeded calls for a general strike, closing their doors in solidarity with the protests. Footage showed streets empty and shops shuttered, while some authorities reportedly fired on demonstrators, leaving many injured.

The protest movement remains largely decentralized, unlike the 2022 demonstrations following Mahsa Amini’s death. Exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi has called on Iranians to show support from their windows, but the level of backing he receives is unclear, and authorities have warned against participation.

Internationally, the protests have drawn attention from the US and Germany, which condemned the excessive use of force. Iran, however, has framed the unrest as the work of foreign-backed saboteurs and violent rioters, while also warning against external interference.