Iran’s internet disruption is registering as a regional connectivity shock that deepens into a de facto digital blackout in at least one province, while protests continue to spread and operational aviation notices stack up across January into March.
NetBlocks data for the region shows sharp divergence across provinces at the latest timestamp, with Hamadan Province at 4% connectivity. Other tracked regions remain materially higher but still depressed relative to normal, including Bushehr Province at 49%, Kermanshah Province at 65%, Fars at 68%, East Azerbaijan Province at 72%, and Tehran at 74%.
Reports describe protests widening rapidly, including claims of “massive crowds” in Tehran and unrest spreading nationally. One account states Iranian security forces are firing at protests in Karaj’s Gohardasht neighborhood.
Other incident reports describe a government building on fire in Tehran, burned-out cars near Ferdows Boulevard by the Islamic Azad University Science and Research Branch in northern Tehran, and state television “in flames” in Isfahan.
Crowd and geography metrics vary by source. One tracker claims 340+ demonstrations across all 31 provinces, while another contextual note cites 348+ district locations across up to 31 provinces.
One assessment argues current unrest remains smaller than the 2022–2023 Mahsa Amini protests, while a counterpoint claims the present wave is spreading faster early on, citing the 348+ location tally across up to 31 provinces and the speed of reported deaths and detentions.
The reported fatality count is inconsistent: one tally cites at least 34 protesters killed plus two security personnel, while another reports at least 45 protesters killed including 8 children, with “hundreds injured,” and notes 13 deaths in a single day.
Detentions are more directionally aligned, with claims of 2,000+ arrests/detentions appearing in multiple places, but without a single reconciled figure.
One day-by-day summary frames January 8 as Day 12 and claims protests have been reported in at least 111 cities across all 31 provinces, alongside bazaar merchant strikes in around 50 cities and student protests at 36 universities.
It also describes mobilization around scheduled evening calls at 8:00 p.m. on successive nights and asserts street slogans and turnout have elevated Reza Pahlavi as a central figure, while also noting the regime has relied on mass arrests and injuries and has not yet deployed its “full coercive capacity,” per that account’s framing.
Israeli Channel 12 reported that the IDF began “serious consultations” on Iran as protests appeared more widespread and organized than prior episodes, with Israeli officials warning of miscalculation risk. The report also said Israel’s security establishment is closely monitoring developments and identifying an increase in Revolutionary Guards military exercises.
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