Iran Briefly Restores International Calling as Protests Rage, Internet Blackout Continues

Iran Briefly Restores International Calling as Protests Rage, Internet Blackout Continues

Mobile phones in Iran were briefly able to make international calls on Tuesday, offering a rare glimpse into the country after authorities cut off the internet and foreign communications amid a sweeping crackdown on nationwide protests.

Several residents in Tehran managed to place calls to The Associated Press and speak directly with a journalist. Attempts to return those calls, however, failed, underscoring how limited and fragile the restored connectivity appeared to be. Text messaging services remained unavailable, according to Iranians contacted, and access to the global internet was still blocked.

Iran imposed the communications blackout last Thursday as demonstrations intensified across the country, a move rights groups say was aimed at stifling coordination and preventing images of the unrest from reaching the outside world.

Iran Protest Death Toll Hits 538 Amid Brutal Government Crackdown

The protests, now stretching into their third week, have been met with a violent response. Activists estimate that at least 646 people have been killed so far, with thousands more detained. The unrest began over economic hardship and currency collapse but has evolved into open challenges to Iran’s ruling theocracy.

Washington Signals Pressure, Tehran Pushes Back

US President Donald Trump said Iran is seeking talks with Washington following his warnings that the United States could strike the Islamic Republic if the crackdown continues. He has repeatedly voiced support for protesters and said the situation is under close watch.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking to Al Jazeera in an interview aired Monday night, acknowledged ongoing contact with US envoy Steve Witkoff. He said communication continued both before and after the protests erupted but dismissed Washington’s position as unacceptable.

“America’s ideas and threats against our country are incompatible,” Araghchi said, signalling little immediate progress despite the back-channel exchanges.

At the White House, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Iran’s public statements do not match what US officials have heard privately in recent days. Trump, she added, remains open to exploring those messages but has made clear he is prepared to use military force if he deems it necessary.

Streets Fill on Both Sides

While anti-government demonstrations have rocked cities night after night, authorities organised a show of strength on Monday, with large pro-government rallies broadcast live on state television. Tens of thousands appeared to gather, chanting slogans such as “Death to America!” and “Death to Israel!”

Some demonstrators also shouted “Death to the enemies of God,” echoing language used by Iran’s attorney general, who warned that participation in protests could be treated as enmity toward God — a charge that carries the death penalty under Iranian law.

Trump said on Sunday that he is “looking at it very seriously,” adding that US military planners have outlined options should the crisis escalate further.

Global Stakes, Regional Anxiety

The turmoil has rattled energy markets and drawn intense scrutiny from world leaders. Brent crude prices jumped more than 5 per cent late last week, reflecting fears that unrest in Iran — OPEC’s fourth-largest oil producer — could disrupt supplies.

Analysts say the protests represent the most serious challenge to Iran’s leadership since the 1979 revolution. More than 10,000 people have reportedly been arrested, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, as security forces try to reassert control.

Authorities have also grounded much of the country’s connectivity, and foreign airlines have cancelled flights to Iran. Trump has said he plans to discuss the possible use of Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite network to help restore internet access.

Israel and European governments are closely monitoring developments, particularly after last month’s US-assisted air campaign against Iran. Western officials say a collapse of the Iranian regime would reshape the balance of power in the Middle East and deal a blow to allies such as Russia.

Uncertain Path Ahead

Despite the scale of the unrest, analysts caution that the Islamic Republic is unlikely to fall quickly. Dina Esfandiary of Bloomberg Economics said the most probable outcome is a leadership reshuffle or an internal power shift, possibly involving the Revolutionary Guard, rather than a full collapse.

“Iranians fear chaos,” she noted, pointing to the devastation seen in Iraq and Syria. “And the government is cracking down hard.”

President Masoud Pezeshkian struck a softer tone on Sunday, offering condolences to families affected by what he called the “tragic consequences” of the unrest and urging dialogue. Few protesters appear convinced. The supreme leader and security forces have signalled they are prepared to respond as they have in the past — with overwhelming force.

For now, the brief restoration of international calling stands as a small crack in an otherwise tightly sealed information blackout, as Iran’s political crisis deepens and the world watches anxiously.