Iran Authorities Block Mobile Internet Access For A Second Time

Iran is again trying to throttle the power of free expression as it turns to control access of Internet anticipating another outbreak of a mutiny.  The Iranian government has restricted mobile internet in several provinces. This comes as protestors take to the social media to announce a wave of demonstrations for the second time.

Apart from this, state media has reported that Iranian intelligence ministry agents have seized a cache of 126 mostly U.S.-made guns smuggled to the central city of Isfahan from abroad. This might be indicative of some kind of violence coming through protests but there is no clarity over this as of now.

Apart from control over Internet access, security forces have been on alert for any events that could spark more unrest after 1,500 people were killed in less than two weeks after protests erupted on Nov. 15, according to a Reuters report.

Earlier on, protests had started over gasoline price hike. They later took in all the other aspects which has been disturbing civilian life in Iran. Protestors have now started speaking out bad sanitation and civic amenities apart from lack of employment opportunities also.

While officials with the government are denying if any access has been denied to Internet services, other sources are confirming that infact internet access is being restricted the way it was done in November for a while. The Communications and Information Technology Ministry has indeed blocked mobile internet access to overseas sites in Alborz, Kurdestan and Zanjan provinces in central and western Iran and Fars in the south.

Earlier, the access block was raised after pressure from western countries and when US threatened to sanction the Information and Broadcast Minister.