Iran urges protesters to turn themselves in, warns of executions as internet blackout continues

TEHRAN, Iran (DPN) — Iran's national police chief on Monday issued a three-day ultimatum to participants in weeks-long nationwide protests, urging those he described as "deceived" young people to surrender themselves for leniency while warning that others would face the full force of the law.

National Police Chief Ahmad-Reza Radan appeared on state television to declare that individuals who "became unwittingly involved in the riots" would be treated as "deceived individuals, not enemy soldiers" and receive lighter punishment if they turned themselves in within three days. Those who fail to comply, he said, would confront severe consequences under Iranian law.

"Swift and timely punishment"

The statement came as judiciary officials emphasized swift and harsh penalties for those involved in what authorities label as "riots." Judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei described protesters as "rioters and troublemakers" and stressed that cases would be handled rapidly, with "swift and timely implementation of punishment" as a key deterrent. 

Charges such as "enmity against God" (moharebeh), which can carry the death penalty, remain possible for serious offenses, though Iranian officials have denied immediate plans for widespread executions in some public statements.

The ultimatum follows more than three weeks of demonstrations that erupted in late December 2025 over economic grievances and rapidly expanded into broad anti-government unrest, marking one of the most significant challenges to the Islamic Republic in decades. 

Rights groups and activists report thousands killed in the crackdown, with estimates ranging from over 3,000 documented deaths by U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) to Iranian officials acknowledging at least 5,000 total fatalities, including around 500 security personnel.

Internet, Starlink

A near-total nationwide internet blackout, now in its 12th day as of Tuesday, has severely restricted information flow, communication and verification of events. Internet monitoring organization NetBlocks reported minimal global connectivity, with only partial restoration of some domestic services under heavy filtering. 

Authorities have indicated that full access may resume when "security conditions are appropriate," amid suggestions of a shift toward a more controlled "filternet" system.

Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet service has emerged as a critical, albeit limited, lifeline for some Iranians amid the nationwide internet blackout imposed since January 8, 2026, during widespread anti-government protests.

The service, provided by SpaceX via a constellation of low-Earth-orbit satellites, bypasses Iran's state-controlled terrestrial networks, allowing users with smuggled Starlink terminals to access uncensored internet and share footage of the unrest with the outside world.

Activists and rights groups credit Starlink with enabling much of the video, images, and eyewitness accounts that have reached international media despite connectivity dropping to 1-2% of normal levels, according to monitoring organization NetBlocks.

However, Starlink's role remains constrained. The regime has aggressively countered it through military-grade jamming of GPS and satellite signals, leading to packet loss of 30-80% in affected areas and rendering connections unreliable or impossible in many urban centers.

Authorities have conducted door-to-door raids, used drones to scan rooftops for dishes, and confiscated equipment, framing Starlink use as aiding "foreign enemies" or "terrorism."

A potential trigger

The protests have drawn international attention, including warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump against mass executions, which he described as a potential trigger for strong action. Iranian officials have pushed back, framing the unrest as influenced by foreign enemies and denying plans for large-scale hangings while promising retaliation against any external intervention.

Mass arrests continue, with families of detainees and slain protesters facing pressure, and security forces maintaining heavy deployments in cities, hospitals and morgues. The situation remains tense, with no major new street demonstrations reported in recent days amid the communications restrictions and crackdown.

Human rights organizations have condemned the blackout and threats of capital punishment as tools of state intimidation, warning that expedited trials could lead to death sentences for protesters.

Source: DPN, Agencies, X postings, AI, January 20, 2026

"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,
but by the punishments that the good have inflicted."

— Oscar Wilde