Iran disrupts internet access amid countrywide protests over fuel prices

Iranian authorities have disrupted internet access across multiple cities, including Tehran, amid widespread protests over fuel rationing and price hikes of more than 50 percent.

According to cybersecurity NGO NetBlocks, online users first reported outages in the city of Mashhad, which saw internet connectivity drop beginning Friday evening.

“Both mobile and fixed-line outages have been identified in affected cities. Tehran, Mashhad, Shiraz and other cities show signs of disruption. The outage is not total and the disruptions do not have national impact at the time of writing suggestive of geographic targeting,” NetBlocks said in its report.

Early on Friday, Iranian state television said the price of a liter of regular petrol was increased to 15,000 rials (12.7 US cents) from 10,000 rials and the monthly ration for each private car was set at 60 liters. Additional purchases would cost 30,000 rials per liter.

Videos seen by Al Arabiya English showed hundreds of protesters gathering in several areas of Iran including the northeastern city of Mashhad, in the southeastern province of Kerman and the oil-rich province of Khuzestan.