Iran Relaxes Restrictions, Permits Foreign Calls Amid Rising Death Toll
As protests escalate in Iran, the government has allowed mobile phone calls to foreign countries while still enforcing a blackout on internet services and text messaging.
By : AP
Update: 2026-01-13 10:25 GMT
Iran eased some restrictions on its people and for the first time in days allowed them to make phone calls abroad via their mobile phones on Tuesday. It did not ease restrictions on the internet or allow texting services to be restored as the toll from days of bloody protests against the state rose to at least 646 people killed.
Although Iranians were able to call abroad, people outside the country could not call them, several people in the capital told The Associated Press.
The witnesses, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, said SMS text messaging still was down and internet users inside Iran could not access anything abroad, although there were local connections to government-approved websites.
It was unclear if restrictions would ease further after authorities cut off all communications inside the country and to the outside world late Thursday.