Iran Rocked by Widespread Protests: Internet Blackout, 45 Dead, India Issues Advisory

• Protests erupted across Iran, including Tehran, following an appeal by exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, leading to widespread internet and telephone blackouts.
• Internet monitoring firms Cloudflare and NetBlocks confirmed a nationwide internet shutdown, attributing it to government intervention amidst rising digital censorship.
• Fueled by Iran's ailing economy, protests have spread to 50 cities, with markets and shops closing in Kurdish regions (Kurdistan, West Azerbaijan, Kermanshah, Ilam) in solidarity.
• Both India and the US State Department issued advisories, urging their citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Iran and exercise extreme caution due to the ongoing unrest.
• Human rights agencies report at least 45 deaths and over 2,260 detentions, as security forces allegedly fired on protesters amid a sharp decline in the Iranian rial's value.

Why It Matters: Iran faces widespread protests, internet blackouts, and casualties due to economic crisis; international advisories issued.