NetBlocks, a website that monitors international internet outages, also reported the disruptions, tweeting that there had been “evidence of mobile internet disruption in parts of #Iran” (ATTA KENARE)
<p>Tehran (AFP) – A wave of internet outages was imposed in Iran Wednesday, ILNA news agency reported, a day before commemorations called for on social media for those killed in unrest last month.</p><p>The cut came on the orders of security bodies, the news agency said, citing what it called an informed source at Iran’s information and communications technology ministry.</p><p>"This restriction on internet access solely includes international traffic of mobile phone lines," the source was quoted as saying.</p><p>It also excluded what the source called "internal traffic", indicating only domestic websites would be accessible.</p><p>ILNA said international connections would be limited in the provinces of Alborz, Fars, Kordestan and Zanjan, and that this was likely to be increased to include others.</p><p>A later update by the labour-focused news agency excluded information from its original report, including that the outage had been ordered by security bodies and the province names.</p><p>AFP correspondents in Tehran reported disruptions on Wednesday to internet connections and other related services.</p><p>NetBlocks, a website that monitors international internet outages, also reported the disruptions, tweeting that there had been "evidence of mobile internet disruption in parts of #Iran" since 6:30 am (0300 GMT).</p><p>"Real-time network data show two distinct drops in connectivity this morning amid reports of regional outages; incident ongoing."</p><p>The outages come ahead of planned commemorations for people killed in street violence that erupted last month during demonstrations against fuel price hikes.</p><p>At the time, authorities imposed a week-long internet blackout as police stations were attacked, shops looted and banks and petrol stations torched.</p><p>Officials in Iran have yet to issue an overall death toll for the unrest, but human rights group Amnesty International has put the number at more than 300.</p><p>Among them was Pouya Bakhtiari, a 27-year-old who reportedly died in Karaj, the capital of Alborz province.</p><p>Mehr news agency reported on Tuesday that his family were arrested after they were found to have been "carrying out a counter-revolutionary project".</p><p>Bakhtiari’s Instagram account, reportedly run by his family, had announced a ceremony marking 40 days since his death would be held at Karaj cemetery on Thursday.</p><p>The Instagram account was still active with more than 19,000 followers on Wednesday.</p><p></p>

Disclaimer: Validity of the above story is for 7 Days from original date of publishing. Source: AFP.