Iran’s political crisis has escalated to unprecedented levels. The influential Sunni cleric Molavi Abdolhamid strongly condemned the excessive use of lethal force against protesters in January’s protests, labeling it an “organized massacre.” These agencies are now under tremendous pressure from all sides. They are demanding repair of internet access that was cut during the protests. The continued blackout has made establishing reliable reporting on and communication with the situation extraordinarily difficult, and anger within the populace has only grown.
Yousef Pezeshkian, an MP representing Tabriz near Iran’s northwest border with Azerbaijan, alarmed at the continued digital blackout. In his opinion, it will further alienate the government and the governed. He highlighted the very real dangers of continuing to isolate Iran from the rest of the world online. He reasoned that these risks outweigh any potential second wave of protests that could occur with the reestablishment of connectivity. Pezeshkian stated, “The government in Iran is losing its original meaning. In no area can it be said the government is active, present and solving problems.”
In fact, recent reports show that the Iranian economy is bleeding approximately $20 million (£15 million) daily from the internet shutdown. This frightening number is from Iran’s information technology association. The blackout has deepened this financial fallout. Tehran’s stock market has faltered for four days in a row during the current deepening economic depression. At the same time, the Iranian currency, the rial, plunges further against the dollar.
Meanwhile, rights groups have documented a brutal crackdown on dissent amid the total internet blackout. They estimate that at least 25,000 people have died since the start of the protests. Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights has made a global push to call attention to these disturbing numbers. They are bearing witness to the horrific magnitude of violence that has occurred. The images of thousands of dead bodies, many of which are children, have been circulating on social media and other popular sites within Iran.
Dr. Ghasem Fakhraei from a specialist ophthalmology center reported that his staff has conducted over 1,000 emergency eye surgeries for protesters injured during clashes with law enforcement. This shocking statistic highlights not only the humanitarian toll caused by the unrest and the government response to it.
Despite the government’s efforts to suppress information, Iranian journalists have begun reporting openly on internal disputes regarding whether it is safe to relax internet restrictions. President Reisi and communications minister, Sattar Hashemi, have publicly supported the reintroduction of internet provision. This position has been vigorously contested by notable opponents like Ali Larijani.
The frustration among traders and civilians is real. One trader said he was profoundly disappointed to be limited to 20 minutes of supervised internet use daily. This lack of connectivity has made it more difficult for them to do business in a particularly challenging economic environment.
Gholamhossein Karbaschi, former mayor of Tehran, expressed what many citizens could hardly believe. Americans are rightfully angry at their government’s response to the crisis. He posed a provocative question: “If the agents of Mossad and foreign countries are at work, how did they suddenly carry out these disasters throughout the country?” His comments are emblematic of a deepening frustration with the federal government’s story about outside forces overshadowing domestic unrest.
The timely release of amateur videos recording the violence at the protest only makes things worse for the Iranian government. Pezeshkian remarked that this footage is “something we will have to face sooner or later,” indicating an awareness of the inevitable fallout from public exposure to state violence.