Internet shutdown continues in Iran, sparks public concerns

Iran's nationwide Internet shutdown continued on Friday, sparking public concerns.

The blackout began on Jan 8 following the outbreak of domestic unrest since late December due to the sharp decline of the national currency, the rial, and long-standing economic hardships.

Explaining the reason for Internet outage in an recent interview, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said his country recorded voices of individuals giving orders from abroad to terrorist agents, instructing them to fire at police forces and fire at demonstrators if police forces were not present.

"Their intention was to spread killing," Araghchi said.

Iran's top cyberspace authority said that Internet access in the country will remain restricted until officials determine that full security has been restored following riots and terrorist acts targeting public institutions.

To facilitate news transmission for foreign media outlets, the Iranian government established a media center earlier this week. But only personnel holding press credentials issued by the Iranian government are permitted to work there.

The prolonged Internet outage has become another major concern for ordinary Iranians, alongside whether the United States will launch a military strike against Iran.

Due to the outage, many Iranian companies have been unable to conduct business effectively, resulting in low efficiency and sluggish investment.

For Iranian Internet users, the disruption means that numerous online stores and Internet-based businesses cannot operate effectively.

Locals also said that if the Internet shutdown persists, especially for a long period, it will lead to a increase in psychological and economic pressure on the public.

In response to currency depreciation and the deteriorating economic situation, the Iranian government is implementing corresponding measures and plans aimed at restoring market stability and enhancing the purchasing power of low- and middle-income groups. However, the effectiveness of these measures remains to be seen.

Iranian officials and the public are closely monitoring whether the United States will launch a military strike, as the latest information indicates that military action is still an option for U.S. President Donald Trump. Iran's military has repeatedly warned of retaliation if the U.S. or Israel attacks Iran. Local analysts believe that U.S. policy is highly volatile, making it impossible to gauge its future plans based solely on Trump's words. Iran should therefore conduct thorough assessments and formulate contingency plans for various possible scenarios.

Internet shutdown continues in Iran, sparks public concerns

Internet shutdown continues in Iran, sparks public concerns

Internet shutdown continues in Iran, sparks public concerns

The usually bustling streets in the travel hub of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) remain quiet while the city's airport -- normally one of the busiest in the world -- is practically deserted following Iranian missile attacks that have affected civilian areas over the past few days.

Joint military strikes launched by the U.S. and Israel on Iran on Saturday have triggered a sharp escalation across the Middle East, setting off waves of missile exchanges, mounting casualties, and far-reaching political and security repercussions.

Iran has responded with retaliatory strikes on various targets, with explosions reported in numerous countries including the UAE.

In recent days, the sounds of blasts have echoed in Dubai, leading to a noticeable decrease in the number of people and vehicles on the streets, while UAE authorities have advised residents to remain vigilant.

The closure of airspace across the Gulf region has also caused widespread disruption and left hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded.

Dubai International Airport now appears virtually empty, with no information displayed on the arrival boards.

Only one screen is operational for departures, and while the majority of flights have been canceled, the UAE has now started permitting a limited number to take off via what it is calling "safe air corridors" in careful coordination with other Gulf countries.

Some travelers gathered in the airport's waiting area on Tuesday, hoping to secure a spot on one of the handful of flights out of the country.

"I'm going back to India. I'm really excited. I came as a tourist. I arrived a week ago. I should have left on Sunday. But I'm leaving on Tuesday, today, two days later," said one Indian traveler.

However, many more remain stuck and can only wait patiently for more updates from airlines.

"I bought one (ticket) a month ago. But the plane that should fly now is canceled. I cannot fly away," said a stricken visitor from Germany.

Despite the circumstances, others say they will stay put and see how the situation unfolds.

"Yeah, I will stay in Dubai," said a worker from Uganda.

The number of visitors in the typically lively Dubai Mall is also noticeably down, while the landmark Apple Store is also presently closed.

The UAE's Ministry of Defense said on Wednesday that its air defense systems have intercepted close to 900 Iranian drones since the crisis erupted.

The ministry also confirmed that the attacks on the UAE have resulted in three fatalities as well as 78 minor injuries.

Dubai streets remain quiet as travel disruption continues after Iranian attacks