Internet blackout and protests in IranCEFR A2
21 Feb 2026
Adapted from Guest Contributor, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Parastoo Maleki, Unsplash
Protests began on 27 December 2025 in Tehran and then spread across many provinces. On 8 January 2026 authorities imposed a near‑total internet shutdown, and limited access began returning on 23 January.
NetBlocks said mobile, landline and international services were affected. As connections came back, videos and eyewitness reports suggested large‑scale state violence. International bodies described the violence as extreme.
Human rights groups reported many arrests and harsh conditions for detainees. The blackout also changed which voices reached audiences abroad, because some state and well‑resourced media kept access.
Difficult words
- protest — public action where people show disagreementProtests
- authority — official group or person with power to make rulesauthorities
- shutdown — stopping a service or activity for a time
- blackout — period when electric or communication services stop
- detainee — a person kept in custody by the authoritiesdetainees
- eyewitness — someone who sees an event and reports it
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How do you think the internet blackout changed which voices people heard abroad?
- If you saw reports of arrests and harsh conditions, how would you feel and why?
