U.S. State Department: Iranian Regime Hides Its Brutality with Nationwide Internet Shutdown

The Persian account of the U.S. State Department on the social media platform X announced that "the complete and nationwide internet shutdown in Iran has now entered its second week," and the Islamic Republic has deliberately isolated the Iranian people from the outside world. The post stated: "The Islamic Republic regime is intentionally separating the Iranian people from the world and hiding its brutal repression." The U.S. State Department emphasized that "the censorship of a nation cannot silence their voices for freedom or conceal the violent actions of the Islamic Republic regime." The message continued: "The world is watching." Previously, two Republican and Democratic representatives in the U.S. Congress sent a letter to President Donald Trump, calling for immediate action by the U.S. government to support the Iranian people amid widespread protests and the extensive internet shutdown by the Islamic Republic. In the letter, initiated by Claudia Tenney, a Republican representative from New York, and Devin Nunes, a Democratic representative from California, the President was urged to use available tools and new technologies, including satellite communications and secure internet freedom tools, to help the Iranian people bypass government restrictions and maintain communication with the outside world. According to the statement, peaceful protests that began in late December 2025 in response to severe inflation, economic collapse, and political repression in Iran quickly spread from Tehran to over 185 cities across all 31 provinces of the country. Reports indicate that at least two thousand people have been killed during the crackdowns, and more than 10,700 have been detained. In continuation of the crackdown, Iranian officials have limited mobile internet and telecommunications since January 8, 2026, and blocked access to satellite services. Claudia Tenney responded to this situation by saying: "The Iranian regime is trying to crush peaceful protests by cutting off people's connections to the world. Access to information is not a luxury, but a vital lifeline."