“The internet shutdown appears to have backfired, as boredom and frustration drove even more people into the streets,” said a 47-year-old man from the Iranian capital, speaking on the condition of anonymity for security reasons.
The Tehran resident told CNN on Saturday how the internet blackout had galvanized more people to join the anti-regime protests sweeping the country.
“People of all ages – men, women and children – participate, chanting from windows and gathering in large numbers,” he said.
The resident explained how citizens have been waiting for the cover of darkness to take to the streets in Iran’s larger cities. He described a sense of “unstoppable momentum” as the protests intensify.
While the protests were initially triggered by concerns over inflation, the resident said the price of everyday goods has continued to rise in the wake of the political unrest, with basics such as eggs and milk becoming “significantly more expensive.”
The head of the Iranian Army, Amir Hatami, in a statement shared with the state media, urged the Iranian people on Saturday to “remain vigilant” and called for unity and national cohesion to “prevent the enemy from achieving its malicious goals.”
Khamenei has continued to post on social media despite the blackout, using the platform X to brand protesters “a bunch of people bent on destruction” and criticize Trump on Friday.
Doug Madory, an expert who studies internet disruptions, told CNN Saturday that even though the authorities have disabled communications, Iran is “technically connected to the internet.”
“So, if they wanted to turn something back on, they could do that for any person or any particular internet connection,” Madory said.
“We can see a small trickle of traffic coming out. So, there is some. It’s very small, but it’s not zero. It’s probably some high value people who have maintained connectivity.” [CNN]
