Iran has stopped internet access for all its citizens. This happened on January 8th. The shutdown has lasted for more than ten days. Many people think this is to stop protests. It also stops the world from seeing what the government is doing. Some people worry Iran might be cut off from the internet forever.
Officials said the internet was shut down because of "terrorist operations." However, others believe the real reason is to stop people from speaking out. Protests have been happening because of high prices and economic problems. These protests involve many different groups of people. The government likely wants to stop the protests from growing. They also want to stop information from reaching other countries.
This internet shutdown affects the world's oil prices. Tensions are high around Iran. This has made oil prices change a lot. Traders are preparing for possible problems with oil supplies. One expert said, "Oil traders are effectively placing bets on chaos." This means they expect big problems.
The future of Iran's internet is worrying. Some sources say the internet may not fully return. It might also be more controlled than before. This could mean Iran becomes very isolated. This would limit communication and trade. It could also affect how information flows.
This situation is similar to past warnings about countries doing business with Iran. The protests started because of money problems. However, the government's actions have made other countries more worried. The city of Qom has been a center for the protests. Iran is limiting internet access. The world is watching and thinking about what this means for peace and the economy.