Iran now offline for over 100 hours

Days-long internet shutdown comes amidst nationwide protests.

Iran continued to be offline for a fifth day on 13 January amidst an internet shutdown implemented by the government in response to nationwide protests against the regime.

Breaching the 100-hour mark on Tuesday, the digital blackout is said to be the government's way of blocking coverage of unrest in Iran. The protests began during the final week of 2025, due to the crash in the country's currency.

"Fixed-line internet, mobile data, and calls are disabled, whilst other communication means are also increasingly being targeted," NetBlocks reported when the shutdown reached 96 hours.

Prior to that, "connectivity to the outside world" was said to be at 1% of ordinary levels, with diminished telecommunications impacting the public's ability to reach out to friends and loved ones and access credible information.

Rebecca White, researcher at Amnesty International's Security Lab, commented: "Access to the internet is a basic human right and indispensable in times of protest. States have repeatedly used shutdowns as a tool to silence dissent and hide the truth.

"Internet shutdowns plunge people into digital darkness, blocking those inside the country from receiving information or sharing it with the outside world."

White, who cited previous instances of internet shutdowns in Iran during which protesters were allegedly killed, said full internet access must immediately be restored.