January 8, 2026
When dictators pull the plug…
Landline phones cut in parts of Iran, eyewitnesses say
Iran cuts phones, protests roar – and the internet nerds smell a ‘color revolution’
TLDR: Iran is reportedly cutting landline phones and internet as protests spread, and the online crowd instantly splits between calling it a slow-motion revolution, fantasizing about DIY networks and Starlink rescue, and accusing freshly made accounts of pushing Saudi-backed propaganda. It’s censorship on the ground, conspiracy board in the comments.
As reports roll in that landlines and internet are going dark in parts of Iran while protests explode across the country, the online tech crowd is less “shocked and horrified” and more “ok, what’s really going on here?” One commenter shrugs that the “color revolution” – online slang for Western-backed uprisings – is just “going slower than usual,” turning a serious crackdown into geopolitical side-eye.
Others immediately pivot to gadgets and workarounds. One user loudly declares this is the perfect real‑world test for Meshtastic, a do‑it‑yourself radio mesh network that can send messages without normal phone lines or internet. To them, Iran isn’t just a tragedy, it’s suddenly a massive beta test. Another commenter brings receipts, linking a previous thread about Iran’s “IPv6 blackout” – internet nerd-speak for part of the global network being cut – like they’re assembling a true‑crime board of government censorship.
Then the paranoia level spikes. A sharp‑eyed user starts digging into the posting history behind the article itself, accusing freshly created accounts of being part of a Saudi‑funded propaganda push via Iran International, a controversial channel. In the space of a few comments, the story morphs from “Iran shuts down phones” into a messy cocktail of regime repression, Elon Musk fantasies about Starlink satellites, DIY radio rebels, and accusations of foreign psy‑ops. The news is dramatic, but the community drama might be even louder.
Key Points
- •Landline telephone services have been cut in some parts of Iran, according to eyewitnesses.
- •Internet access has been shut down in many cities across Iran, based on reports from network monitors.
- •Nationwide protests are taking place across Iran, despite reports of a violent crackdown by security forces.
- •US-based activist Masih Alinejad has publicly urged Elon Musk and US political leaders to use Starlink to help restore internet access in Iran.
- •Analysis of hundreds of protest videos shows chants evolving from economic grievances to explicit opposition to the Islamic Republic and, in some cases, support for a return to monarchy.