The son of Iran’s president has called for the country’s internet restrictions to be lifted, arguing that nothing is solved by delaying the moment when images and videos of the violently suppressed protests circulate.
As a debate rages within the regime’s leadership over the political risks of maintaining Iran’s internet blockade, Yousef Pezeshkian—whose father, Masoud, was elected in the summer of 2024—said keeping the digital shutdown in place would fuel public dissatisfaction and widen the divide between the people and the government.
“This means those who were not and are not dissatisfied will be added to the list of the dissatisfied,” he wrote in a Telegram post. He added that the release of videos showing protest violence was “something we will have to face sooner or later,” and that “shutting down the internet will not solve anything; we will just postpone the issue.”
The sporadic lifting of restrictions is allowing a slow and painful investigation into how many protesters, including children, have been killed. Authorities carried out a violent crackdown under the cover of an internet blackout, with rights groups documenting several thousand deaths. The Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights estimates the final death toll could be as high as 25,000. Thousands more remain detained.
Pictures of many of the dead children are appearing on internet sites inside Iran. Meanwhile, Dr. Ghasem Fakhraei, director of Tehran’s Farabi Eye Hospital, reported that staff at the specialist ophthalmology center have performed emergency eye surgery on more than 1,000 patients since the protests began, with hospital wards overflowing.
In this photo obtained by the Associated Press, Iranians attend an anti-government protest in Tehran on January 9. Photograph: AP
Molavi Abdolhamid, a prominent Sunni cleric and outspoken Friday prayer leader in Zahedan, southeast Iran, referred to the violent killing of protesters in January as an “organized massacre.”
Yousef Pezeshkian, who also serves as a government adviser, argued that the risk of keeping Iran cut off from the internet is greater than the risk of renewed protests if connectivity is restored. He stated that security institutions must ensure safety even with the internet active, calling it a necessity of modern life.
Echoing his father’s comments, Pezeshkian claimed the protests turned violent only because of professionally trained groups affiliated with foreign actors. However, he added: “In the meantime, the security and law enforcement forces may have made mistakes, and no one is going to defend wrongdoing—that has to be addressed.”
Iranian journalists have openly reported a dispute within the government over whether it is safe to relax internet access. While the president and Communications Minister Sattar Hashemi support the move, Ali Larijani, head of the Supreme National Security Council, opposes it.
Tehran’s stock market fell for the fourth consecutive day on Sunday, and the Iranian rial continued to drop against the dollar—one of the key drivers of the protests. The Central Bank of Iran reported that a recent debt issuance was only 15% subscribed, a development that will force further government spending cuts or lead to higher inflation. The official inflation rate last month exceeded 42%.
Although shops have reopened, even newspapers aligned with the security services admit that trading activity remains low.
Iran’s computer trade organization estimates the internet shutdown costs $20 million (£15 million) per day. Truck drivers also report difficulties crossing borders due to the lack of electronic documentation.
One frustrated trader said they are granted only 20 minutes of supervised internet access per day—enough to answer a few emails, but insufficient to conduct business.
With restrictions being partially lifted, pressure on the authorities is becoming increasingly visible.The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claims the high death toll is solely due to the subversive activities of Mossad, Israel’s foreign intelligence agency. Gholamhossein Karbaschi, a reformist former mayor of Tehran, responded: “People are in shock and amazed… If Mossad and foreign agents are at work, how did they suddenly carry out these disasters across the entire country? Where did they come from?”
He also criticized the Pezeshkian administration’s failure to improve the economy. “The government in Iran is losing its original purpose. In no area can it be said the government is active, present, and solving problems. All other forces in the country are active and doing what they want, except for the government. This government shows no power in any area,” Karbaschi said.
Some protesters contacted by the Guardian in Iran blamed Donald Trump for not providing the help he had promised. “He betrayed us,” said one. “Trump is more hateful to me than Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei because the ideology of Khamenei and the IRGC is clear. Trump promised and kept saying he would support us. Trump is the lowest of leaders the world has seen.”
Another protester said: “Bodies are intact, but hearts and minds are shattered. For a moment, you feel happy that you have finally managed to get internet access. Then instantly, guilt hits—what are you happy about? Why are you still breathing, you useless person?”
They added: “We are honestly sorry for ourselves because, first, God does not exist. Second, we have become so miserable that we are impatiently waiting for another country to attack ours, hoping it will save us. And even then, there is no guarantee that it will.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the call from the son of Irans president to restore internet access during protests designed to cover a range of understanding levels
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What happened in Iran regarding the internet
Authorities in Iran shut down or severely restricted internet access across the country during widespread public protests
2 Who called for the internet to be restored
Hossein Khamenei the son of Irans President Ebrahim Raisi publicly urged the government to restore internet access
3 Why is this news significant
Its unusual for a family member of a top leader to publicly criticize a major government action suggesting there may be internal disagreements about the shutdowns effectiveness or cost
4 Why would a government shut down the internet during protests
Governments often do this to prevent protesters from organizing sharing images and videos with the outside world and to control the flow of information about the events
5 What are the protests about
The protests referenced here are typically about social political and economic issues often sparked by specific events like the enforcement of mandatory hijab laws or economic hardship The exact catalyst can vary
Advanced Practical Questions
6 What are the broader implications of this public call
It highlights a potential rift within the Iranian political establishment between hardliners who favor complete control and those who see the economic and social damage of a total blackout
7 What is the economic impact of an internet shutdown
It cripples daily life online businesses fail digital payments stop communication for work and family is cut and the formal and informal economy grinds to a halt costing millions of dollars per day
8 How do citizens get around internet shutdowns
People often use Virtual Private Networks to bypass blocks or use offline mesh networks and Bluetoothbased apps to communicate locally However these methods are slower less reliable and can be risky
9 Is shutting down the internet during protests a common tactic
Yes its a growing tactic used by various governments worldwide during periods of unrest Digital rights groups like Access Now document hundreds of such shutdowns globally each year
10 What is the digital dilemma this situation presents for authoritarian governments
Governments want the internet for economic growth surveillance and propaganda
