While Iranians across the country were suddenly cut off from the internet, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, continued to post on X. This is what makes this blackout different from previous internet blockages in Iran, said Doug Madory, an expert in internet infrastructure who studies such disruptions. 0:46 Iran hit by internet blackout as protests over economic conditions continue – videoRashidi said: “There are things that are important for the government to do. Some of its Telegram channels appeared to be working, Rashidi said, indicating that its administrators must have internet service. All of this suggests Iran has developed more precise tools for censoring the internet.

Source: The Guardian January 10, 2026 10:10 UTC