Iran: Internet Outage Across the Country and At Least 45 Protesters Killed Amid Large Demonstration in Tehran

SadaNews - Iran has witnessed a nationwide internet outage, according to the internet monitoring group "NetBlocks". Meanwhile, the Norway-based organization "Iran Human Rights" announced on Thursday that Iranian security forces killed at least 45 protesters, including eight minors, during the suppression of the protests that began at the end of December last year. A large number of protesters gathered on a main street in the northwest of the Iranian capital on Thursday, as shown in circulating images on social media. Photos from Tehran captured crowds and cars honking in support of the demonstrators, with parts of "Kashani" Street filled with protesters. Persian-language television networks based outside Iran and social media platforms showcased large demonstrations in various cities, including Tabriz in the north and Mashhad in the east. These protests appear to be the largest since the inception of the protest movement. Videos of the protests on Kashani Street in Tehran showed individuals chanting anti-government slogans, including "death to the dictator". In one video, protesters were seen blocking a main road in the Vekilabad area of Mashhad, which houses one of the holiest shrines for Shia Muslims. Additionally, large protests were reported in northern Tabriz, where people chanted "Long live Pahlavi", as well as in the city of Tabriz, according to other unverified videos shared on social media. Activists believe there are no signs of the protest movement diminishing, rather it is expanding despite a crackdown that has resulted in fatalities, according to human rights organizations. NetBlocks reported a nationwide internet outage in Iran on Thursday, coinciding with a rise in the death toll from the suppression of protests sparked by deteriorating living conditions. NetBlocks stated in a social media post that "live data indicates that Iran is now experiencing a complete national internet outage", adding that this comes "in the wake of a series of digital censorship measures targeting protesters across the country, hampering people's right to communicate at a critical moment". The organization noted that Wednesday was the deadliest day since the protests began 12 days ago, with 13 protesters killed. Mamdouh Amiri-Moghadam, director of the organization, stated: "Evidence shows that the scope of repression is becoming more violent and widespread day by day," mentioning that hundreds have been injured, and two thousand protesters have been arrested. According to a tally compiled by the "France Presse" agency based on reports from Iranian media and official statements, 21 people have been killed since the protests began, including security forces. **Bezhakian Calls for "Utmost Restraint"** Iranian President Masoud Bezhakian called on Thursday for "utmost restraint" in dealing with protests that have entered their twelfth day in the country, amidst reports of clashes in several areas. Bezhakian stated in a communiqué posted on his website that "any violent or coercive behavior should be avoided". He urged for "utmost restraint" and "dialogue, communication, and listening to the people's demands". **Expansion of Protests After Opposition Calls Abroad for Additional Demonstrations** Iranian security forces have used tear gas and live ammunition to disperse protesters in several parts of the country, as movements sparked by deteriorating living conditions continue, alongside the opposition’s call for more protests and strikes in Iran on Thursday. The protests, which have entered their twelfth day, have expanded to include political demands against the authorities, primarily targeting Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who has held the position since 1989. The protests began on December 28 with a strike by merchants in Tehran's bazaar over the declining currency exchange rate and purchasing power amid U.S. and international sanctions. The scope of these movements has increased, particularly in the western regions of the country where there are many residential communities of the Kurdish and Lor minorities. These protests are considered the broadest in Iran since the demonstrations of 2022 and 2023, which followed the death of Mahsa Amini while in custody for violating strict dress codes imposed on women by the morality police. However, the current protests have not yet reached the scale of movements seen in Iran in late 2022, nor have they matched previous protest movements like those following the 2009 presidential election or the demonstrations of 2019 that erupted following a government decision to raise fuel prices unexpectedly. Nevertheless, they pose a new challenge to the authorities following a 12-day war with Israel in June, which damaged nuclear, military, and civilian infrastructure and resulted in the deaths of prominent figures in the security elite and nuclear scientists. Iranian officials have sought to distinguish between demonstrators protesting for economic reasons and "rioters" whom they have vowed to deal with firmly. A police officer was stabbed during unrest near Tehran, local media reported on Thursday. The Fars News Agency stated that Shahin Dehghan, a policeman in the city of Mallard west of Tehran, "was martyred hours earlier after being stabbed while trying to control the unrest," noting that authorities are working to identify the perpetrators. Reza Pahlavi, the son of the ousted Shah Mohammad Reza, has stated that the movements have reached an "unprecedented" level. Pahlavi, in a video message on social media platforms, called for a new mass movement on Thursday evening, asserting that the authorities show "great fear" of the protests, warning that they might resort to "cutting off internet access" to quell them. Iranian Kurdish opposition parties based in Iraq, including the banned "Komaleh" party by Tehran authorities, have called for a general strike on Thursday in predominantly Kurdish areas of western Iran that have seen significant protest activity.