Armenia Loses Contact with Diaspora in Iran Amid Nationwide Blackout
**BREAKING:** Armenian authorities report they have been unable to contact ethnic Armenians in Iran since January 9, amid nationwide anti-government protests and a near-total internet blackout. Mobile communications have been severely restricted, and even Starlink satellite internet has reportedly been scrambled.
Iran’s Armenian community—one of the country’s oldest Christian minorities—numbers between 100,000 and 150,000, with large populations in Tehran and Isfahan. The blackout has made it impossible to verify conditions or assess risks to the community as protests that began two weeks ago continue across the country.
“Since Friday, we cannot reach our compatriots, which worries us greatly,” said Armenia’s High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, Zareh Sinanyan, in a January 12 press conference. Armenian officials may need to gather information at the Meghri border crossing before determining next steps, including potential evacuation or assistance measures.
The situation remains fluid and deeply concerning for both Armenia and the global Armenian diaspora with connections to Iran.