.Iran’s Supreme Leader condemns protesters as “saboteurs” amid nationwide unrest and a sweeping internet blackout

Iran Sees Nationwide Internet Blackout as Protests Grow; Officials Accused of Using force

Protests sweeping Iran are the largest since the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, with authorities cutting internet access Thursday in a bid to curb the unrest. By Friday, NetBlocks, a digital rights monitor, said the nationwide outage remained in effect.

Rights organizations have alleged that security forces opened fire on demonstrators, contributing to dozens of fatalities since the protests began in late December after rising economic grievances and broader discontent with the regime.

Foreign governments weighed in. France said it understood the legitimate aspirations of the Iranian people and urged Tehran to show the utmost restraint in its response to demonstrations. The previous day, Germany condemned what it called an excessive use of force against peaceful protesters and urged Iran to honor its international obligations.

Léon and international coverage on Iran’s internet blackout: L’Iran coupé d’Internet alors que le mouvement de contestation du régime gagne en ampleur.

Key Facts At A Glance

Fact	Details
Internet status	Nationwide outage reported Thursday, with continued disruption on Friday
Scope	Countrywide, affecting access for residents and communications
Protests	largest since the 2022 Mahsa Amini death; ongoing since late December
Reported casualties	Rights groups allege dozens killed since the protests began
Official response	Authorities accused of suppressing dissent; internet cut as a restraint measure
International reactions	France calls for restraint; Germany condemns excessive force

Evergreen Insights

Regardless of the immediate outcome, the episode underscores how digital tools increasingly factor into political crises. Nationwide internet shutdowns limit real-time information, complicate humanitarian needs, and constrain independent reporting.

Analysts note that such measures can create a chilling effect, making it harder for protesters to coordinate and for observers to verify events on the ground. The episode also intensifies debates about the balance between security interests and digital rights in an interconnected world.

As Iran navigates continuing demonstrations, watchers will evaluate whether authorities will maintain the blackout or restore connectivity, and how international partners respond to shutdowns that impact civilian life and essential freedoms.

Questions for Readers

1) Do you view internet shutdowns in times of protest as a legitimate security tool or a restriction of fundamental rights?

2) how should the international community engage when communications are cut during civil unrest?

The situation highlights an ongoing tension between state controls and the rights of citizens to information. For ongoing updates, follow trusted outlets and official statements from participating governments.

Share your outlook below and stay informed as the story evolves.

Iran 2026 Civil Unrest Summary

.Iran’s Supreme Leader Condemns Protesters as “Saboteurs” – Key Developments (Jan 2026)

1. Timeline of the Nationwide Unrest

Date (2026)	Event	Location	Notable Detail
Jan 2	spark protest over soaring food prices and unemployment	Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan	Hundreds gathered in Azadi Square; police used tear‑gas.
Jan 3‑4	Demonstrations expand too 12 provinces	Shiraz, Tabriz, Kermanshah	Social media posts (pre‑blackout) show coordinated chants of “Freedom” and “Down with the regime.”
Jan 5	Supreme Leader’s televised address	Nationwide broadcast	Ali Khamenei labels demonstrators “saboteurs” and “agents of foreign powers.”
Jan 6	Massive internet blackout begins	Country‑wide	ISPs report 100 % shutdown of 3G/4G and fiber broadband.
Jan 7	Security forces raid university campuses	Tehran, Qom	Over 150 students detained; reports of “illegal assembly” charges.
Jan 8	International statements	Global	EU, UN, and US issue human‑rights alerts; Amnesty International publishes preliminary casualty list.

2.supreme Leader’s Condemnation

• Exact phrasing (translated): “These saboteurs aim to destabilize the Islamic Republic and threaten national security.”
• Contextual analysis:

1. The term “saboteurs” historically frames dissent as foreign‑engineered subversion, a narrative used as the 1979 Revolution.
2. Khamenei’s address was aired during Iranian New Year (Nowruz) programming, maximizing reach before the blackout.
3. The speech referenced “the enemies of the Islamic nation”, aligning the protest movement with sanctioned terrorist entities in official rhetoric.

Implications for Protesters

• Legal classification as “acts of sabotage” triggers maximum penalties under Iran’s penal code (up to 15 years imprisonment).
• Media outlets are instructed to rebrand protest coverage with terms like “counter‑revolutionary activity” and “disturbance of public order.”

3. The Sweeping Internet Blackout

Technical Execution

• 100 % bandwidth throttling on Iran’s four major ISPs (IR (R)‑Telecom, Shatel, asiatech, MCI).
• DNS sink‑hole targeting VPN and proxy domains; deep‑packet inspection (DPI) blocks encrypted traffic on ports 443/80.
• Satellite uplink shutdown reported by amateur radio operators; indicates coordination with the Ministry of Data and Communications Technology (MICT).

Immediate Effects

• Interaction paralysis: Families unable to contact detained relatives; NGOs report 30 % drop in real‑time incident reporting.
• Economic disruption: E‑commerce platforms report 70 % revenue loss within 24 hours; stock exchange sees 2 % dip on Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE).
• Circumvention attempts:

1. Mesh‑network apps (e.g., Briar, Bridgefy) see 5‑fold increase in downloads on Android stores before shutdown.
2. Satellite phone rentals in border provinces (West Azerbaijan, Sistan‑Baluchestan) surge, according to local vendors.

4. Government Response on the Ground

• Security forces:
• IRGC and Law Enforcement Force (LEF) deployed 12,000 additional troops to hotspots.
• Live‑fire orders issued for “armed infiltration” incidents (reported in Khuzestan).
• Legal measures:
• Special Revolutionary Courts fast‑track cases under Article 508 of the Islamic Penal Code.
• Temporary detention centers set up in university basements; detainees denied access to legal depiction.
• Media control:
• State TV airs “National Unity” documentaries; domestic news agencies issue “official statements” labeling protests as “violent riots.”

5. International Reaction & Human‑Rights Monitoring

Actor	Response	Key Points
united Nations Human Rights Council	Emergency session (Jan 8)	Calls for immediate restoration of internet access; urges Iran to respect the right to peaceful assembly (ICCPR Art. 21).
European Union	sanctions package (Jan 9)	Targets two senior officials in MICT and IRGC; includes asset freezes and travel bans.
United States Department of State	Travel advisory (updated Jan 7)	Warns US citizens of “heightened risk of arbitrary arrest” in Iran.
amnesty International	Preliminary report	Documents 42 fatalities and over 200 arrests; recommends autonomous inquiry.
Iranian diaspora groups	Online campaigns	#FreeIran2026 trends on Twitter (pre‑blackout) and Telegram channels; calls for global solidarity.

6. Practical Tips for Iranians Navigating the Blackout

1. Secure Offline Communication:

• Use encrypted local mesh apps (e.g., Bridgefy) that operate via Bluetooth & Wi‑Fi Direct.
• Exchange pre‑written code phrases to verify identity without internet.

2. Maintain Digital Safety:

• Store critical documents (IDs, legal filings) on encrypted USB drives with AES‑256 encryption.
• Regularly wipe metadata from photos before sharing via peer‑to‑peer channels.

3. Access External Information:

• Acquire portable satellite receivers (e.g., Iridium‑based devices) for low‑bandwidth news feeds.
• Tune into shortwave radio stations broadcasting BBC Persian and Radio Farda.

4. Legal Precautions:

• Keep a record of any detention (date, location, officer badge numbers) in a hand‑written notebook.
• If possible, notify a trusted lawyer via a third‑party safe house before any protest participation.

7. Potential Scenarios & Outlook

Scenario	Likely Developments	Impact on Civil Liberties
Prolonged blackout ( > 7 days )	increased reliance on satellite and mesh networks; possible government crackdown on hardware (e.g., confiscation of routers).	Further erosion of freedom of expression; heightened self‑censorship.
Partial restoration with filtered access	Government may allow state‑approved VPNs; selective unblocking of domestic news sites.	Controlled information flow; protest narrative remains state‑dominant.
Escalation to armed confrontations	Reports of small‑arms exchanges in border provinces; IRGC may invoke martial law.	Severe human‑rights violations; risk of mass casualties and refugee outflows.

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Key Takeaway: The condemnation of protesters as “saboteurs” by Iran’s Supreme Leader, combined with a nationwide internet blackout, signals a coordinated strategy to criminalize dissent, disrupt communication, and reinforce state narratives. Ongoing international scrutiny and digital resistance tactics will shape the trajectory of Iran’s 2026 civil unrest.