Iran’s near-total communications blackout has entered its 16th day, but that’s just a live test. Following a repressive crackdown on protests, the government is now building a system that grants...
An Iranian flag hangs on a wall of the Aqsa Mosque, which burns during anti-government protests in eastern Tehran, Iran, on January 21, 2026. (Photo by Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images)