As Iran gradually restores internet access after a nationwide blackout, questions mount over the scale of the crackdown on protests and the deeper political and regional implications.
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| Iran’s decision to lift parts of its internet shutdown highlights the regime’s struggle to contain unrest while managing international pressure and internal legitimacy. Image: CH |
Tehran, Iran — January 19, 2026:
Iran’s gradual restoration of internet access comes after a 10-day nationwide blackout that coincided with one of the most severe episodes of unrest the country has witnessed in years. While authorities insist calm has returned, the timing of the shutdown—and its easing—has intensified scrutiny over whether digital controls were used to obscure a violent crackdown that rights groups describe as a massacre.
The protests, which erupted in late December over worsening economic hardship, quickly evolved into a broader political challenge. What began as frustration over living conditions escalated into demonstrations that observers say represented the most serious test of Iran’s leadership in years. Security forces responded with force as protests grew in size and intensity, while authorities cut off most internet access on January 8, limiting communication among protesters and sharply reducing the flow of information to the outside world.
Iranian officials maintain that the demonstrations were initially peaceful before devolving into “riots,” blaming foreign interference by long-standing adversaries such as the United States and Israel. This narrative, frequently deployed during periods of unrest, seeks to recast domestic dissent as an externally driven security threat. However, the scale of the response and reports of thousands killed have deepened mistrust between the public and the state.
The crisis has also spilled into the international arena. Former US President Donald Trump’s public criticism of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei—calling for new leadership and condemning the killing of protesters—sharpened an already tense relationship. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s warning that any attack on the supreme leader would amount to a declaration of war underscored how closely domestic stability and national security are intertwined in Tehran’s calculus.
On the ground, signs of normalcy have returned only cautiously. Schools have reopened after a week-long closure, and authorities say internet access will be restored gradually. Yet AFP correspondents report continued heavy security deployments in central Tehran, including armoured vehicles and motorcycle units, suggesting lingering fears of renewed unrest. Symbolic messaging has also intensified, with banners depicting fallen adversaries as “dominoes” aimed at projecting resilience and defiance.
The partial return of connectivity may ease immediate pressure, but it does little to address the root causes of the protests: economic strain, political disillusionment, and demands for accountability. As Iran reopens its digital gateways, the leadership faces a persistent dilemma—how to project control and stability while confronting deep-seated grievances that can no longer be fully contained by shutting off the internet.