DUBAI, United Arab Emirates
For the first time since a communications blackout was imposed during a deadly crackdown on nationwide protests, Iranians were able to make mobile calls abroad on Tuesday.
Several individuals in Tehran reached The Associated Press, providing a brief, stark glimpse into life in the capital after four and a half days of isolation.
They reported that SMS services remain blocked and internet access is restricted to government-approved domestic sites, with no connectivity abroad.
The witnesses described a city under a heavy security clampdown. Anti-riot police in helmets and body armor, armed with batons, shields, shotguns, and tear gas launchers, stood guard at major intersections.
Members of the Revolutionary Guard’s Basij force, also armed, were visible, alongside plainclothes security officials in public spaces.
They also reported scattered damage from the unrest, including several burned banks and government offices. Smashed ATMs were common, and banks struggled to process transactions without internet access.
According to activists, at least 646 people have been killed in the protest crackdown.
By James Kisoo
