Iran’s nationwide internet shutdown has stretched beyond two weeks, deepening concerns among activists who believe the move is aimed at concealing the true scale of the government’s response to widespread protests.
Internet monitoring group Netblocks confirmed that the blackout has remained largely intact for 14 days, noting that overall connectivity across the country continues to sit at extremely low levels. While there have been isolated reports of brief access in recent days, these moments have been described as inconsistent and mostly limited to government-approved platforms.
According to the monitor, only a slight increase has been observed on networks linked to state-controlled traffic, with just a handful of users managing to bypass restrictions and access the wider internet through unspecified means.
The prolonged blackout comes amid growing controversy over the human toll of the unrest. Iranian authorities on Wednesday released their first official figures, claiming that 3,117 people were killed during the protests. The figures, released by a state-linked foundation, classified most of the dead as members of the security forces or civilians, while blaming what it described as foreign-backed rioters for the violence.
Human rights organisations have strongly disputed this account, accusing security forces of using live ammunition against protesters and warning that the actual death toll could be far higher, possibly running into the tens of thousands.
Rights groups have also argued that the internet shutdown has made it difficult to document events on the ground, limiting communication and obscuring the extent of the crackdown. The blackout began on the evening of January 8, when demonstrations erupted across several major cities, openly challenging Iran’s clerical leadership.
As the shutdown drags on, pressure continues to mount over transparency, access to information, and the broader human rights implications.
