{"id":993,"date":"2025-06-19T16:31:10","date_gmt":"2025-06-19T16:31:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/iranians-terrified-as-internet-blacked-out-amid-israeli-strikes\/"},"modified":"2025-06-19T16:31:10","modified_gmt":"2025-06-19T16:31:10","slug":"iranians-terrified-as-internet-blacked-out-amid-israeli-strikes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/iranians-terrified-as-internet-blacked-out-amid-israeli-strikes\/","title":{"rendered":"Iranians &#8216;terrified&#8217; as internet blacked out amid Israeli strikes"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Iranians face a nationwide internet blackout as Israeli strikes continue to pummel the country, including the capital Tehran.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">NetBlocks, an internet watchdog run by British human rights advocate Alp Toker, reported mid-Thursday (Australia time) that Iran had been offline for more than 12 hours.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">It said authorities had imposed a nation-wide internet shutdown, citing Israel&rsquo;s alleged &ldquo;misuse&rdquo; of the network for military purposes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&ldquo;The measure continues to hinder residents&rsquo; access to information at a critical time,&rdquo; NetBlocks said.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ContentAlignment_marginBottom__4H_6E ContentAlignment_overflowAuto__c1_IL ContentAlignment_outdentDesktop__ijbiK LegacyWysiwyg_wysiwyg___2JFa\" data-component=\"LegacyWysiwyg\" title=\"live blog teaser\" data-print=\"inline-media\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/teaser\/105418386\">\n<ul class=\"ContentAlignment_marginBottom__4H_6E ContentAlignment_overflowVisible__N2zKU\">\n<li>Iran-Israel conflict live updates: Israel says strikes on Iran will intensify after missile hits hospital<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Since Israel first attacked Iran last Friday, Iranian authorities have regularly placed partial restrictions on internet access for the country&rsquo;s roughly 90 million people &mdash; even as many sought to flee their homes to safer locations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Iranian authorities have reported at least 224 deaths, mainly civilians, as the result of Israel&rsquo;s bombing campaign &mdash; but have not updated that toll for days.<\/p>\n<div class=\"internal-linking-related-contents\"><a href=\"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/12-weeks-jail-for-school-it-support-technician-who-took-upskirt-videos-of-teachers\/\" class=\"template-1\"><span class=\"cta\">News :<\/span><span class=\"postTitle\">&lt;div&gt;12 weeks' jail for school IT support technician who took upskirt videos of teachers&lt;\/div&gt;<\/span><\/a><\/div><p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">A number of senior military leaders and scientists involved in Iran&rsquo;s nuclear program have been killed in strikes on their homes in apartment blocks, which authorities said also killed scores of civilians.<\/p>\n<p><span data-component=\"Loading\" data-print=\"inline-media\" class=\"Loading_loading__21MZU VideoMiddleware_loading__aGBo3\"><span class=\"Loading_spinner__zmkAw Loading_spinnerSize32__Z_XId Loading_spinnerColourBrand__CqEIF\"><\/span><span class=\"Loading_label__cTH1q\" role=\"alert\" aria-live=\"assertive\">Loading&hellip;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">The Washington-based group Human Rights Activists said on Thursday that at least 639 people &mdash; of whom it had identified 263 civilians and 154 security force personnel &mdash; had been killed in Iran.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Israel has said 24 people, all civilians, have been killed in Iran&rsquo;s retaliatory strikes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Ali Vaez, Iran project director with the Washington-based think tank Crisis Group, said it was unclear why Iranian authorities had blocked the internet.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&ldquo;One possible reason could be that they&rsquo;re worried about an Israeli cyber attack that could either tap into sensitive information or paralyse some of the critical infrastructure in the country,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ContentAlignment_marginBottom__4H_6E ContentAlignment_overflowAuto__c1_IL ContentAlignment_floatRight__nfR_t RelatedCard_relatedCard__4Im5s interactive_focusContext__yRhc_ interactive_defaults__AKxUU interactive_hoverContext__LDUDX interactive_defaults__AKxUU\" data-component=\"RelatedCard\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/article\/105436734\" readability=\"3.943661971831\">\n<h3 class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP RelatedCard_heading__S_nm2 Typography_sizeMobile18__eJCIB Typography_lineHeightMobile24__crkfh Typography_bold__FqafP Typography_serif__qU2V5 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">For some in Iran, Israel&rsquo;s attack shows &lsquo;regime&rsquo;s drum was loud but hollow&rsquo;<\/h3>\n<div class=\"internal-linking-related-contents\"><a href=\"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/migrant-acquitted-in-first-trial-over-us-border-military-zones\/\" class=\"template-1\"><span class=\"cta\">News :<\/span><span class=\"postTitle\">Migrant acquitted in first trial over US border military zones<\/span><\/a><\/div><p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP RelatedCard_synopsis__cFwMW Typography_sizeMobile14__u7TGe Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">With Israel and Iran continuing to trade blows, Iranians tell the ABC of their fears living in a conflict zone &mdash; and the hope among some that it might eventually lead to lasting change in the country.<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&ldquo;There might also be damage to some of the infrastructure that provides internet,&rdquo; Dr Vaez said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&ldquo;The regime might also be potentially interested in trying to prevent communication out of fear it would allow mobilisation from inside the country as some sort of popular or foreign-led uprising against the regime.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken about the need for regime change in Tehran.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Speaking after the first strikes against Iran last week he said, addressing Iranians, that: &ldquo;As we achieve our objective, we are also clearing the path for you to achieve your freedom.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&ldquo;The regime does not know what hit them, or what will hit them. It has never been weaker. This is your opportunity to stand up and let your voices be heard,&rdquo; Mr Netanyahu said.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"ContentAlignment_marginBottom__4H_6E ContentAlignment_overflowAuto__c1_IL ContentAlignment_outdentDesktop__ijbiK Figure_figure__xLyBy Figure_docImage__DSvk4\" data-print=\"inline-media\" data-component=\"Figure\" id=\"105437330\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/imageproxy\/105437330\" readability=\"26.5\">\n<div class=\"Figure_content__8xRH4\">\n<div class=\"FigureContent_content__GnImC\">\n<div class=\"ContentImage_ratio__0yYeG\">\n<div class=\"AspectRatio_container__FC_XH\" data-component=\"AspectRatioContainer\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Iranian flags fly as fire and smoke rise from an Israeli attack on an oil depot in Tehran\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\" sizes=\"100vw\" src=\"https:\/\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/80d7077819bcfda430e404afb9107370?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&amp;cropH=2034&amp;cropW=3051&amp;xPos=0&amp;yPos=0&amp;width=862&amp;height=575\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"Figure_caption__fS2lN\" readability=\"3\">\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">Hundreds of Iranians have died in Israeli strikes.<!-- --> <cite>(<span>Reuters: Majid Asgaripour\/West Asia News Agency<\/span>)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Iran&rsquo;s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that Iran would not surrender in comments carried by semi-official news agency Tasnim.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&ldquo;War will be met with war, bombing with bombing, and strike with strike,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&ldquo;Iran will not submit to any demands or dictates.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP Heading_heading__VGa5B future_heading__Gcudw Heading_default__Z3p_p Typography_sizeMobile20__NUDn4 Typography_sizeDesktop32__LR_G6 Typography_lineHeightMobile24__crkfh Typography_lineHeightDesktop40__BuoRf Typography_marginBottomMobileSmall__6wx7m Typography_marginBottomDesktopSmall__CboX4 Typography_bold__FqafP Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx Typography_normalise__u5o1s\" data-component=\"Heading\">&lsquo;Terrified&rsquo; Iranians told to delete WhatsApp<\/h2>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">In response to internet restrictions, tech billionaire Elon Musk said on his social media platform X over the weekend that he had activated the Starlink satellite communications system in Iran.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">The internet there was already heavily censored and authorities have previously shut off or restricted internet access to suppress popular dissent, including in 2022 after the death of Mahsa Amini which sparked anti-regime women&rsquo;s rights protests.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ContentAlignment_marginBottom__4H_6E ContentAlignment_overflowAuto__c1_IL ContentAlignment_floatRight__nfR_t RelatedCard_relatedCard__4Im5s interactive_focusContext__yRhc_ interactive_defaults__AKxUU interactive_hoverContext__LDUDX interactive_defaults__AKxUU\" data-component=\"RelatedCard\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/article\/105437420\" readability=\"3.0741839762611\">\n<h3 class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP RelatedCard_heading__S_nm2 Typography_sizeMobile18__eJCIB Typography_lineHeightMobile24__crkfh Typography_bold__FqafP Typography_serif__qU2V5 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">Iran and Israel both try to control the message, but with different approaches<\/h3>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP RelatedCard_synopsis__cFwMW Typography_sizeMobile14__u7TGe Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">Israel&rsquo;s slick PR machine hits overdrive when the fighting starts, but getting information from Iran is almost impossible.<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Iranian officials blocked access to WhatsApp in the wake of those protests until late 2024.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">On Tuesday (Tehran time), Iranian state television told Iranians to remove the WhatsApp messaging platform from their phones, claiming that the app was sending user information to Israel.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">WhatsApp, which is owned by Meta, said this was &ldquo;false information that we&rsquo;re concerned will be used as an excuse to block WhatsApp at a time when people need it the most&rdquo;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&ldquo;All of your personal messages and calls are end-to-end encrypted so we cannot see them,&rdquo; WhatsApp said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&ldquo;We do not track your precise location. We do not keep logs of the personal messages people are sending one another.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&ldquo;We do not provide bulk information to any government,&rdquo; it said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">The ABC&rsquo;s attempts to contact a source in Tehran via WhatsApp on Thursday were unsuccessful.<\/p>\n<p><span data-component=\"Loading\" data-print=\"inline-media\" class=\"Loading_loading__21MZU VideoMiddleware_loading__aGBo3\"><span class=\"Loading_spinner__zmkAw Loading_spinnerSize32__Z_XId Loading_spinnerColourBrand__CqEIF\"><\/span><span class=\"Loading_label__cTH1q\" role=\"alert\" aria-live=\"assertive\">Loading&hellip;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Iranians have also reported having difficulty accessing cash or making online payments due to disruptions to the country&rsquo;s banking systems.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">CNN&rsquo;s chief international anchor Christiane Amanpour, who is British-Iranian, told ABC Radio National she was in contact with family and some friends in Iran.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&ldquo;They are, at least my family, trying to do their best to evacuate to various homes inside Tehran but they can&rsquo;t get out because the roads are gridlocked, they don&rsquo;t have gasoline,&rdquo; she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&ldquo;The financial system has been hacked so therefore it&rsquo;s hard to pay for what you need. If this goes on, they might run out of provisions.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Predatory Sparrow, an Israel-linked hacking group known by its Persian name Gonjeshke Darande, earlier in the week claimed a major cyber attack against the Iranian financial institution Bank Sepah.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">The hacking group said Bank Sepah was &ldquo;an institution that circumvented international sanctions and used the people of Iran&rsquo;s money to finance the regime&rsquo;s terrorist proxies, its ballistic missile program and its military nuclear program&rdquo;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Crisis Group&rsquo;s Dr Vaez said the Iranian population was terrified &mdash; particularly because state media had extensively covered the war in Gaza since October 7, 2023.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&ldquo;They have seen the degree of bloodshed and civilian casualties in Gaza, and they know that, you know, Israel doesn&rsquo;t necessarily distinguish between civilians and its prime targets and so they&rsquo;re terrified,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"ContentAlignment_marginBottom__4H_6E ContentAlignment_overflowAuto__c1_IL ContentAlignment_outdentDesktop__ijbiK Figure_figure__xLyBy Figure_docImage__DSvk4\" data-print=\"inline-media\" data-component=\"Figure\" id=\"105437730\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/imageproxy\/105437730\" readability=\"26\">\n<div class=\"Figure_content__8xRH4\">\n<div class=\"FigureContent_content__GnImC\">\n<div class=\"ContentImage_ratio__0yYeG\">\n<div class=\"AspectRatio_container__FC_XH\" data-component=\"AspectRatioContainer\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Cars in a traffic jam as people try to flee Tehran\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\" sizes=\"100vw\" src=\"https:\/\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/f596fdcc792e8ade93dc0c6e4f27d9de?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&amp;cropH=3333&amp;cropW=5000&amp;xPos=0&amp;yPos=0&amp;width=862&amp;height=575\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"Figure_caption__fS2lN\" readability=\"2\">\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">Many have attempted to flee Tehran since Israeli strikes began.<!-- --> <cite>(<span>AFP: Atta Kenare<\/span>)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Palestinian authorities say more than 55,000 people have been killed during Israel&rsquo;s war against Hamas.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">The war in Gaza erupted after Hamas-led militants raided Israel and took 251 hostages and killed 1,200 people, most of them civilians, on October 7, 2023, Israel&rsquo;s single deadliest day.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Israel has maintained that its military operations are conducted in self-defence and that it takes steps to mitigate civilian harm.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Dr Vaez said that unlike in Israel, there were no bomb shelters for civilians in Iran so people felt especially unprotected and vulnerable.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&ldquo;This is a regime that was not offering anything on social freedoms or economic prosperity or political participation. It was only offering security,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&ldquo;Now even on that front, it is failing and there&rsquo;s a sense of despair inside the country.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ContentAlignment_marginBottom__4H_6E ContentAlignment_overflowAuto__c1_IL ContentAlignment_outdentDesktop__ijbiK LegacyWysiwyg_wysiwyg___2JFa\" data-component=\"LegacyWysiwyg\" title=\"Israel Iran conflict read more\" data-print=\"inline-media\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/teaser\/105420940\">\n<h3 class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP Heading_heading__VGa5B future_heading__Gcudw Heading_default__Z3p_p Typography_sizeMobile18__eJCIB Typography_sizeDesktop20___6qCS Typography_lineHeightMobile24__crkfh Typography_lineHeightDesktop24__Fh_y5 Typography_marginBottomMobileSmall__6wx7m Typography_marginBottomDesktopSmall__CboX4 Typography_bold__FqafP Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx Typography_normalise__u5o1s\" data-component=\"Heading\">Read more about the Israel-Iran conflict:<\/h3>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<p><sub><\/sub><\/p>\n<div>Iranians &lsquo;terrified&rsquo; as internet blacked out amid Israeli strikes<\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Iranians face a nationwide internet blackout as Israeli strikes continue to pummel the country, including the capital Tehran. NetBlocks, an internet watchdog run by British human rights advocate Alp Toker, reported mid-Thursday (Australia time) that Iran had been offline for more than 12 hours. It said authorities had imposed a nation-wide internet shutdown, citing Israel&rsquo;s&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"more-link-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/iranians-terrified-as-internet-blacked-out-amid-israeli-strikes\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &ldquo;Iranians &#8216;terrified&#8217; as internet blacked out amid Israeli strikes&rdquo;<\/span> &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":994,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-993","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/993","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=993"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/993\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/994"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=993"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=993"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=993"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}