Iranian Regime Imposes ‘Total Internet Blackout’ to Mask Mass Executions, Activists Warn

Image: from Victory X @Mansour1763328

By Open Chronicle Staff with Agencies

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the Islamic Republic of Iran enters its 1,000th hour of a near-total internet blackout, activists and writers are sounding the alarm on what they describe as a “murder spree” being hidden from the global community. The digital shroud, which began 43 days ago, has reportedly allowed the regime to carry out mass executions with minimal international scrutiny.

“Masters of Propaganda”

Sheila Amir, an Iranian-American writer and entrepreneur, characterized the blackout as a deliberate tool to facilitate human rights violations. According to Amir, the regime has intensified its crackdown following a nationwide uprising in January that resulted in the deaths of over 7,000 people.

“They’re controlling what goes in and what goes out, and they’re executing people en masse,” Amir told The Post. She noted that while the general population remains in the dark, the regime issues “white cards” to loyalists, granting them state-monitored internet access.

The blackout has created a perilous environment for those attempting to bypass it:

• Starlink Crackdown: Security forces are reportedly patrolling streets to identify satellite signals, kidnapping or killing those found using Starlink devices.

• Mental Terror: Amir described the regime’s strategy as a form of “physical and mental exhaustion” intended to break the spirit of the resistance.

Rising Death Toll Amid the Blackout

Despite the information blockade, chilling details of the regime’s use of capital punishment have surfaced. While the United Nations reported at least 1,639 executions in 2025, the pace appears to have accelerated during the current conflict.

The human rights group Hengaw has documented evidence of 160 hangings since January. Among the most high-profile cases to leak out was the public execution of 19-year-old championship wrestler Saleh Mohammadi, which sparked international outrage.

Diplomatic Backdrop

The reports of domestic brutality come at a sensitive diplomatic juncture. On Saturday, Vice President JD Vance led high-stakes talks in Pakistan aimed at brokering an end to the ongoing war with Iran.

However, Amir and other members of the Iranian diaspora argue that the regime’s internal “war” against its own citizens must not be sidelined by geopolitical negotiations. Despite the risks, some citizens continue to smuggle videos and images out of the country to document the atrocities.

“When your own government is constantly mentally and physically terrorizing you, it’s exhausting,” Amir said. “But nobody is buying the [regime’s] propaganda anymore.”