The Night Situation in Iran: Under Blackout and Unrest

Over the past weeks, Iran has plunged into widespread unrest that continues deep into the night, with nightly demonstrations, heavy government crackdowns, and a near-total information blackout that obscures what is happening on the ground. What began in late December 2025 as discontent over economic hardship has evolved into one of the most intense waves of dissent in recent Iranian history, with dramatic nightly developments shaping both domestic life and international concern.

Night-Time Protests and the Pulse of Streets After Dark

Each night, residents across many Iranian cities — including Tehran, Isfahan, Mashhad, Tabriz, Gorgan, Urmia, and more — have taken to the streets in protest, despite rising violence and communications blackouts. These scenes often unfold hours after dusk, as people defiantly march, chant, and rally in neighborhoods even as authorities attempt to suppress them with force.

Protesters have used the cover of evening to gather in large numbers, torching fires in streets, chanting anti-government slogans, and facing off against security forces. In some areas, activists report that protests continue nightly, with crowds swelling after sunset in defiance of curfews and restrictions.

Internet Blackout and Nightly Silence

Since 8 January 2026, Iranian authorities have imposed a near-total nationwide internet blackout starting in the evening hours, effectively cutting off communication domestically and with the outside world. This blackout often begins around 8:30 pm local time as protests escalate, making it exceedingly difficult for those inside Iran to share real-time updates, and leaving international audiences in the dark.

Even alternative connections like Starlink satellite internet — smuggled into Iran to circumvent restrictions — have faced interference and suppression by security forces, especially after dark. Reports indicate authorities have been tracking down and confiscating Starlink terminals to stop videos of protests reaching global platforms.

Security Crackdowns by Night

Under cover of night, security forces — including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Basij units, and police — have intensified their efforts to control street gatherings. Witness accounts describe curfews, store closures, and patrols with orders to shoot on sight, with nightfall marking a particularly perilous time for civilians out after dark.

Hospitals have reported overwhelmed emergency rooms with casualties arriving after late-night clashes. Human rights groups have documented hundreds of severe injuries, including hundreds of gunshot-related eye traumas caused by security force fire, as well as a rapidly rising death toll from the protracted crackdown.

Casualties and the Toll in the Dark

Accurate figures are difficult to verify due to the blackout, but rights groups, activists, and some official sources place the number of fatalities and injuries in the hundreds to potentially thousands. Reports include:

Hundreds of deaths and thousands of arrests in nationwide protests.

Over 400 severe eye injuries documented at a single Tehran hospital linked to night-time clashes.

Independent Iranian sources estimate at least 648 protesters killed, with some estimates — difficult to confirm — running into the thousands.

These figures illustrate the intense human cost of nightly confrontations between protesters and state forces as Iran’s streets remain active long after dark.

Domestic and International Narratives After Dark

Inside Iran, official media and some commentators assert that “security and calm” have been restored, dismissing external reports of unrest as exaggerated. Such statements often circulate in late-night news cycles and aim to project control.

Internationally, world leaders and organizations have condemned the violence, with the United Nations expressing alarm at the level of force used against civilians. Meanwhile, reactions from foreign governments vary, with some leaders publicly supporting protesters’ rights and others warning of the risks of external interference.

Life After Nightfall for Ordinary Iranians

For many Iranians, nighttime has become tense and uncertain. Shops close early under unofficial curfews, transportation slows, and families stay indoors to avoid clashes. At the same time, some neighborhoods become gathering points for local demonstrations, even as people try to balance safety with the urge to express political and economic grievances.

The nightly environment reflects a nation struggling with deep internal divisions — where silence imposed by blackouts weighs as heavily as the voices that rise in protest against economic hardship, political repression, and demands for change.

Conclusion: Nights of Defiance and Darkness

The night situation in Iran today encapsulates a complex and evolving struggle. Protests continue across the country after dark despite intense crackdowns and deliberate communication blackouts. Nightfall — once a time of domestic peace — has turned into a period of confrontation, fear, and resistance for many Iranians. In the absence of reliable information flow, the true scale of overnight events is hard to assess, but what emerges paints a picture of a society in deep unrest as it navigates a critical moment in its history.