UPDATE - Iran reportedly facing internet, phone service cutoff

UPDATES WITH POWER CUTOFF; CHANGES HEADLINE

By Serdar Dincel and Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - Iran is now under a nationwide internet blackout, with a phone service cutoff quickly following.

"Live metrics show Iran is now in the midst of a nationwide internet blackout," London-based internet monitoring group NetBlocks said on US social media company X late Thursday.

Soon after the web blackout, phone service was also cut off, said media reports.

Iran has been rocked by waves of protests since last month, starting on Dec. 28 at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar, over the sharp depreciation of the Iranian rial and worsening economic conditions. Demonstrations later spread to several other cities across the country.