Internet outage in Iran continues, and Pahlavi calls for escalation
Technical and human rights reports confirm the continued complete shutdown of internet services in Iran, a move by authorities aimed at containing the expanding protests. NetBlocks, a non-governmental organization that monitors cybersecurity and internet freedom globally, reported that the blackout imposed by Iranian authorities on Thursday remains in effect, effectively isolating the country digitally.
Digital blocking strategy
In a statement released via its X platform, the organization explained that network data shows a continuous internet outage exceeding 36 hours. This severely limits the ability of Iranian citizens to communicate with each other or check on their families, as well as preventing the flow of information and images documenting current events to the outside world. Tehran typically resorts to the strategy of "shutting down the internet" during periods of political unrest as a security tool to prevent the organization of demonstrations via social media and to obscure the methods used to suppress protesters. This policy has been repeated in previous protests and has drawn widespread international criticism for violating fundamental human rights, including the right to access information.
A call for escalation and field control
In a significant development on the political scene, Reza Pahlavi, the son of the deposed Shah of Iran and a resident of the United States, explicitly called on protesters to escalate their demands and intensify their demonstrations. Pahlavi's appeal came on Saturday, coinciding with the fourteenth day of the protest movement, which was initially sparked by deteriorating living conditions and the economic situation.
In a post, Pahlavi stated, "Our goal is no longer just to control the streets; the goal is to prepare to seize and control city centers." He urged Iranians to take to the streets in large numbers, confidently indicating that he is preparing to return to his homeland at a time he believes is "very soon." Pahlavi's remarks are seen as an attempt to unify the ranks of the opposition abroad with the movement inside Iran, adding further political pressure on the Iranian regime.
Background to the crisis and deteriorating living conditions
These developments come amid simmering public discontent, as Iran grapples with a crippling economic crisis characterized by soaring inflation, a collapsing currency, and rampant unemployment—factors that have been the primary drivers of the current wave of protests. Observers believe that the demonstrations' continuation for two weeks, despite the security crackdown and communication blackouts, reflects the deep chasm between the public and the authorities, suggesting that security measures alone may not be sufficient to quell public anger demanding fundamental reforms that address the core of the country's political and economic system.
