Iran vows regime will "not back down" as web blackout continues

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iran-protests-internet-blackout-khamenei-vows-not-back-down-trump-threat/

55•geox•4w ago

Comments

inglor_cz•4w ago

But their Foreign Minister took his entire family and flew to Beirut. Doesn't look like a routine visit.

dkindler•4w ago

Source?

inglor_cz•4w ago

This is what I found.

https://x.com/Osint613/status/2009405639869526236

Maybe someone in Lebanon can chime in.

breppp•4w ago

That story is based on rumors and denied by the minister himself.

However, French media reports the Iranian elites are trying to get french visas

https://www.iranintl.com/en/202601089494

Other unconfirmed rumors currently circulating is that last night under the cover of the internet blackouts there has been a major massacre of protestors

https://x.com/IliaHashemicom/status/2009594128284205077

bamboozled•4w ago

Other unconfirmed rumors currently circulating is that last night under the cover of the internet blackouts there has been a major massacre of protestors

Really, really hope it's a rumor.

inglor_cz•4w ago

This video indicates that there were some dead last night:

https://www.reddit.com/r/NewIran/comments/1q7x4vv/caution_di...

perihelions•4w ago

That would unfortunately repeat the playbook of their 2019 internet blackout, which was likewise a cover to the government massacring "as many as 1,500 protestors".

> "To block the sharing of information regarding the protests and the deaths of hundreds of protesters on social media platforms, the government shut down the Internet nationwide, resulting in a near-total internet blackout of around six days.[25][26][27] In an effort to crush the protests, the Iranian government (according to Amnesty International) shot protesters dead from rooftops, helicopters, and at close range with machine gun fire. In an effort to mask the scale and casualty count of the protests, it hauled away large numbers of bodies of the dead protesters,[24] and threatened families of slain protesters not to speak to the media or hold funerals.[28]"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019–2020_Iranian_protests

xenospn•4w ago

If things calm down back home, he can say this was a routine work trip. If not, it doesn’t matter.

internationalis•4w ago

It’s classic: the government killing protesters in the streets, and Western government-backed opposition groups trying to hijack the protests to seize power. Western governments support a person whose published plan for a 24-to-36-month (extendable) “transitional period” puts himself in charge as the absolute leader, with some advisory institutions whose members he personally “appoints.” Then, after 24 to 36 months, they promise elections—just like what the former al-Qaeda–linked Sharia is doing in Syria.

breppp•4w ago

The US only supported jawlani in the last year after he took control and shown himself as relatively pragmatic so I don't think this take aligns with reality.

Up until 2024 he had a 10 million reward on his head and it would be very plausible he will end up assassinated by a US UAV

https://2017-2021.state.gov/rewards-for-justice-reward-offer...

Edit: can't reply to your flagged post, Turkey may be a NATO ally but does not qualify as western. Its interests were not aligned with US interests in Syria.

US supported the Kurds which are Turkey's long time enemies, while Turkey supported an Al Qaeda offshoot, which the US was not enthusiastic about

mhb•4w ago

And the heads of the rest of the world's developed but militarily impotent countries who are so eager to weigh in on the various foreign policy issues du jour are painfully silent. Why aren't they standing with Trump in supporting the Iranian people? Pathetic.

whatshisface•4w ago

It's kind of funny to see some people downplaying the US-Shah connection while others use it as a fulcrum.

geremiiah•4w ago

https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/01/09/eu-rejects-vio...

> The crackdown on protesters in Iran has prompted an outcry among European leaders, with High Representative Kaja Kallas denouncing Tehran for its "disproportionate" and "heavy-handed" response.

> The European Union has sharply condemned the crackdown on protesters in Iran who have taken to the streets to show their discontent over the Islamic Republic.

mhb•4w ago

So a tepid EU sound bite? What have Starmer, Macron or Martin said?

Starmer: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01/03/keir-starmer-sil...

ndsipa_pomu•4w ago

The Telegraph (aka Torygraph) is a well known source of misinformation - they're approaching the Daily Mail (aka Daily Heil) in terms of just making up shit.

However, I certainly don't want to be seen as supporting Starmer - he does seem to have remained silent on Iran or the MSM is not interested in reporting it.

Zigurd•4w ago

Because of the results in Libya and Syria are shining examples of the benefits of covert intervention? Because the people running these policies are not as smart as the Cold War era leaders?

cosmicgadget•4w ago

If they support these demonstrations they certainly should not stand with Trump.

thomassmith65•4w ago

That's not the best wording.

I root for the Iranian people in spite of Trump's support.

In fact, these Iran protests are a ray of light partly because liberalism is under attack, from populists like Trump, in Western nations.

mhb•4w ago

Macron, Starmer and Merz speak (jointly):

"We are deeply concerned about reports of violence by Iranian security forces, and strongly condemn the killing of protestors. The Iranian authorities have the responsibility to protect their own population and must allow for the freedom of expression and peaceful assembly without fear of reprisal. We urge the Iranian authorities to exercise restraint, to refrain from violence, and to uphold the fundamental rights of Iran’s citizens."

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/leaders-declaration-of-fr...

geremiiah•4w ago

The article says basically nothing besides, "people are protesting in Iran". I found this survey, no endorsement because I have no idea about the source, but it gives a better picture of where the Iranian people stand: https://gamaan.org/2025/08/20/analytical-report-on-iranians-...

foolinaround•4w ago

Is Musk's Starlink capable of filling the gap for this large population?

vorpalhex•4w ago

Iran cracked down on personal satellite internet ownership because it had been used to bypass censorship attempts.

So right now there is almost no starlink hardware in the country.

irishcoffee•4w ago

> "Even Starlink, which has been the main line of communication for some activists in different parts of the country, has been jammed," Bahari said, referring to the satellite communication system run by Elon Musk.

It's right there in the article. Just click the link!

hersko•4w ago

These type of issues always bring me back to the phenomenal essay "I Can Tolerate Anything Except The Outgroup"[1]. People can cheer on the worst despots as long as their local "outgroup" is aligning with the other side.

Trump/Israel bad > Trump/Israel is anti Iranian regime > Iranian regime must not be so bad (or actually be good!)

[1] https://www.slatestarcodexabridged.com/I-Can-Tolerate-Anythi...

xenospn•4w ago

Applicable to Hamas/houthis as well.

rich_sasha•4w ago

I'm well aware that the Iranian regime is genuinely disliked and in many ways very bad, but it gives me the heebie-jeebies that it happens just after Venezuela.

Will a protector come and save the Iranians, again?

cosmicgadget•4w ago

Seems like a different enough situation to be a coincidence and/or a delayed result of the Israeli strikes. And immediate result of a water shortage.

A theocracy masquerading as a democracy can't really expect to not have uprisings now and again.

dismalaf•4w ago

Syria, Hamas, Hezbollah, Venezuela, Iran. All Russian allies. All in trouble/falling within a year. Probably a sign Russia's failing and/or the US actively working against them.

tim333•4w ago

Trump said if they start shooting protestors he'll intervene but it remains to be seen if anything happens. They were shooting last night apparently.

linhns•4w ago

Flagging on HN has taken a new level.

_DeadFred_•4w ago

From the last Iran thread it seems like the pro-Gaza people are really upset at the potential loss of a theocratic Iranian benefactor. It was the wildest thread I've seen on HN.

Sabinus•4w ago

Which thread is that?