(Credit: MANDEL NGAN / Contributor / AFP via Getty Images)
Iranian authorities have reportedly cut internet access in the country amid mass protests against the government and the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Data from Cloudflare and Netblocks suggests the outage started on Jan. 8, and multiple sources in Tehran confirmed to CBS News that the internet is down in the capital. Phone lines are reportedly affected, too.
The protests began on Dec. 28 over Iran's ailing economy and high cost of living. They have since broken out in at least 17 of Iran's 31 provinces, the BBC reports. Social media videos show enormous crowds flooding the streets, the largest anti-government protest since 2022, when the death of a 22-year-old in police custody triggered nationwide demonstrations, NPR reports.
A counter-protest also formed on Dec. 30 in support of the Iranian regime, Reuters reports.
The internet outage appears to be in response to protests intensifying, following encouragement from Iran's exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi on social media.
"During the regime's violent crackdown, you are resisting, and it is inspiring," Pahlavi said in a video posted to X on Jan. 6. He is the 65-year-old son of the former US-backed Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last shah and pro-Western leader of Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The demonstrators are reportedly pro-Pahlavi and chanting support for the shah.
"Take to the streets and, in united ranks, shout out your demands," Pahlavi says in another post today. "I warn the Islamic Republic, its leader, and the Revolutionary Guards that the world and the President of the United States are closely watching you. The suppression of the people will not go unanswered."
President Donald Trump said the US would defend the protestors if the regime turned violent, but says he has not met with Pahlavi. If Iran "violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue," Trump said on Truth Social last week. "We are locked and loaded and ready to go."
Iran's ambassador to the United Nations Amir, Saeed Iravani, called Trump's rhetoric "reckless," according to Al Jazeera, and an "attempt to incite, encourage or legitimize internal unrest as a pretext for external pressure or military intervention."
Venezuelans also lost some internet access this month following the US's airstrikes and subsequent capture of former President Nicolás Maduro. Elon Musk's SpaceX is now offering free Starlink service to citizens until Feb. 3, provided they can get the necessary equipment.
The Iranian government also shut down the internet in May 2025, following Israeli airstrikes and concerns over further cyberattacks. VPN use spiked over 700% as Iranians sought other ways to stay connected.