Anti-regime activists hacked Iran’s Badr satellite, briefly taking over state TV broadcasts to air protest messages and appeals by Reza Pahlavi, according to Iran International and Manoto News.
Pezeshkian's comments come after Trump's Politico interview, where the US president stated that "It's time to look for new leadership in Iran."
NetBlocks reported that at hour 238 of the digital blackout, there was a “significant return to some online services, including Google, suggesting that heavily filtered access has been enabled.”
The internet blackout started at approximately 8:30 p.m. on January 8 during nationwide anti-regime protest activity across the Islamic Republic.
It’s possible Iran has used foreign groups to suppress protesters. Because they are foreigners, they have no allegiance to average Iranians and likely don’t mind harming them.
'The Jerusalem Post' was unable to verify additional foreign media outlets where reporters have successfully broadcast from within Iranian territory.
Reports from doctors on the ground stated that at least 16,500 protesters have died and 330,000 have been injured, according to testimony within Iran shared with the 'Sunday Times.'
The moves, reported since late Friday, came as US officials and regional militaries coordinated on contingency planning for possible Iranian retaliation.
Steve Witkoff, in contact with Iran's FM Abbas Araghchi via text, reportedly "defused the situation" by informing Trump that the Iranian government had canceled planned executions.
"Western media figures interfered in past seditions, but this time the US president himself encouraged the sedionists," Khamenei said.
Reports from UK officials suggest Iran used chemical substances to control protesters. Alleged delayed health reactions lead to deaths days later, sparking international concern.
