Iran Plunges into Nationwide Communications Blackout Amid Escalating Protests; Trump Issues Stark Warning to Regime

Tehran, January 8, 2026 — Iran experienced a near-total shutdown of internet and telephone services on Thursday, as nationwide anti-government protests over economic collapse entered their 12th day, according to internet monitoring groups and eyewitness reports.

The blackout, described by NetBlocks as a "nationwide internet blackout," began abruptly in the afternoon local time, severing connectivity across multiple providers and plunging major cities including Tehran, Kermanshah, Mashhad, and Shiraz into digital isolation. Attempts to reach Iranian landlines and mobile phones from abroad failed, suggesting telephone services were also disrupted. Cloudflare Radar reported a 98.5% drop in IPv6 address space, effectively cutting off mobile users from global networks.

The move comes as protests, sparked by soaring inflation, currency devaluation, and widespread hardship, have swelled into calls for regime change. Demonstrators have taken to the streets in unprecedented numbers, with exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi urging coordinated actions, including evening chants from windows and rooftops.

In a direct warning to Iranian authorities, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the United States would "hit them really hard" if security forces "start killing people." Speaking in an interview, Trump emphasized that the regime had been "told very strongly" that violent suppression of protesters would provoke severe consequences, adding that demonstrators would "have to pay hell" if lethal force was used against peaceful crowds.

Trump has previously praised Iranians as "brave people" and indicated the U.S. was prepared to intervene if the regime crossed certain red lines. The president's comments have drawn sharp rebukes from Tehran, with Iranian officials accusing Washington of hypocrisy and interference.

Human rights groups report at least dozens killed in clashes, including security personnel, though official figures remain lower. The blackout is seen as an attempt to hinder protest coordination and limit real-time coverage of events, a tactic employed by the Islamic Republic during past unrest, including the 2019 fuel price protests and the 2022 Mahsa Amini demonstrations.

Exiled opposition figure Reza Pahlavi warned regime leaders and the Revolutionary Guards that "the world and the U.S. president are watching you closely," asserting that suppression "will not go unanswered."

As the crisis deepens, analysts suggest the protests represent one of the most serious challenges to the Islamic Republic in years, fueled by economic desperation following years of sanctions and recent conflicts. The full extent of the communications shutdown's impact remains unclear, with fears it could escalate tensions both domestically and internationally.

17GEN4.com