TEHRAN – Dozens were killed and internet services were disrupted across Iran as protests against economic crisis continue to intensify.
According to internet monitoring group NetBlocks, a nationwide internet blackout was imposed on Thursday evening, a move widely seen as an attempt by the government to control the escalating demonstrations.
The blackout came after a huge number of people took to the streets of Tehran and other major cities, blocking roads and chanting anti-government slogans.
Reports said several neighborhoods in the capital, Tehran, were completely occupied by protesters till Thursday evening. Key roads in urban areas were blocked, and clashes between police and protesters continued throughout the night, with harsh anti-political leadership chants filling the air.
Reports claimed that rising economic pressure has sparked the protests, which particularly being staged by the working class and lower-middle-class citizens as they are struggling to meet daily needs due to the devaluation of the Iranian rial and the skyrocketing prices of basic goods.
According to human rights organizations, at least 45 people, including children, have lost their lives in the ongoing unrest, while thousands have been arrested. The protests have spread across all 31 provinces, and commercial strikes have intensified the economic pressure.
The Iranian government has issued mixed messages, with President Masoud Pezeshkian calling for security forces to exercise restraint.
