It is difficult to know what's happening in Iran right now.

The communications blackout started on Thursday night in Iran, and so it's basically been Thursday

since we've heard from them, and it's not just me, it's some Iranians across the diaspora

around the world. Holly Dogris is a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East

Policy.

She grew up in Iran.

Dagris told NPR that she hasn't heard from her family in days because the government there has shut down the internet and phone communications.

I know that some people have been able to get a hold of their families and friends.

There's been messages pouring in from Starlink if you have a friend,

a neighbor, a family member, but that's only 50 to 60,000 users across a country of 90 million. So effectively, much of the country, we don't know what's happening inside. What we do know is this.

The country has been rocked by days of large anti-government protests,

first sparked by the crippling economy, now anger at the theocratic regime.

Videos posted online show streets where protesters are shouting and clapping and images of

barricades and lit fires. NPR has not been able to independently authenticate

these videos. More than 500 people have been killed, according to the U.S.-based human rights

activist news agency. NPR is unable to independently confirm that figure.

Right now, what Iranians want are two things. They want to have access to the world. But more importantly,

they want a democratic transition. They've been calling for this regime to go for a long time.

And now, President Trump is considering whether to weigh in and how, even though Trump says Iran is willing to negotiate.

I think they're tired of being beat up by the United

States. Here's Trump talking to reporters on Air Force One on Sunday night. We may meet with them. I mean,

a meeting is being set up, but we may have to act because of what's happening before the meeting.

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