Internet access cut in Iran amid protests: Netblocks

Residents and monitoring groups say Iranian authorities have sharply restricted internet access amid ongoing protests across the country.

In the western province of Kermanshah, which was shaken by the turmoil, internet monitoring organization NetBlocks reported a complete outage of the main internet operator TCI.

Citizens reported that the internet was also restricted in other parts of the country.

Mobile internet was also affected in some major cities.

The restrictions were widely seen as linked to renewed calls for protests on Thursday and Friday by Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last shah who was ousted in the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Eyewitnesses said that in Tehran, the capital of Iran, people shouted from their homes and gathered on the street on Thursday night.

More markets and bazaars were closed in support of the protesters.

There was a wave of protests in Iran for 11 days due to the deepening economic crisis and the sharp decline in the Iranian rial currency.

In Tehran, angry merchants first took to the streets, and then the demonstrations spread to most of the country.

At least 38 people have been killed in clashes with authorities since the protests began, according to US-based human rights network HRANA.

with AP