More than 3,000 people have been killed in nationwide protests across Iran, according to the US-based human rights group HANA, which confirmed 3,090 deaths, including 2,885 protesters. The demonstrations began on December 28 over economic hardship and quickly spread across the country. After eight days of a near-total internet blackout, online activity has shown a slight increase, with connectivity reaching only about 2 percent of normal levels.

Residents reported that the crackdown has largely halted protests, and state media continues to report new arrests. In Tehran, the capital, the situation has remained relatively calm for four consecutive days, with drones observed flying over the city but no major demonstrations on Thursday or Friday. A resident from a northern Caspian Sea city also described local streets as quiet.

NetBlocks, an internet monitoring group, said connectivity began to recover slightly on Saturday morning after roughly 200 hours of shutdown. Some Iranians living abroad reported being able to send messages to users inside Iran for the first time since the blackout began.