A swirl of wild rumors, combined with travel restrictions and a near-total media blackout from official agencies, made it difficult to confirm the reports. The authorities appeared to respond by temporarily cutting internet access to mobile phones, but full coverage was eventually restored. There was chaos earlier around the capital’s university as hundreds took to the streets, blocking traffic and shouting slogans against the regime. The protests began in the second city of Mashhad on Thursday as an attack on high living costs but quickly turned against the Islamic regime as a whole. State news channel IRINN said it had been banned from covering the protests that spread to towns and cities including Qom and Kermanshah.

Source: Manila Times December 31, 2017 04:30 UTC