The Kabul Tribune (KT) — International phone calls from inside Iran have partially resumed after being cut for nearly five days, even as nationwide protests continue and senior Iranian officials defend restrictions on communications as a security measure, the Associated Press reported.
According to AP, several individuals were able to place
calls from Tehran to the news agency, marking the first confirmed restoration
of outbound international connections since the disruption began. However, the
report said attempts to reconnect with those callers were unsuccessful, and
internet services across the country remain largely shut down.
The communications blackout comes amid protests that have
entered their second week. Demonstrations initially erupted over economic
hardship, soaring inflation and rising prices, before expanding to include
broader social and political demands. Protesters have held marches and rallies
in multiple cities, voicing dissatisfaction with living conditions and
government performance.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, referring to
recent mass rallies by government supporters, said the Iranian people had
“created a historic day” and thwarted what he described as plans by foreign
enemies carried out through internal agents. His remarks underscored the leadership’s
emphasis on national unity and resistance to external pressure.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Al
Jazeera that the suspension of internet and telecommunications services
followed what he described as a terrorist operation, not an attempt to suppress
public protests. He said internet access had remained active during
demonstrations and insisted the government recognizes citizens’ right to
protest.
Araghchi added that Iran’s president has personally met with
protesters and listened to their concerns, saying the government is seeking to
manage security threats while maintaining dialogue in order to prevent further
escalation.
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