Tragedy News:Life is full of unexpected surprises’: People trying to call Iran meet mysterious voice message: See more

People trying to call friends and loved ones inside Iran have instead been met with strange, pre-recorded voice messages, which some experts believe may be part of the regime’s wider internet blackout.

In a recording of a telephone call heard by CNN, a person outside of Iran hoping to hear their friend’s voice on the other line, was instead met with a robotic voice. “Hello, and thank you for taking the time to listen,” the voice says.

While different variations have been reported, this version appears to have been the one most commonly heard by people outside Iran placing calls to mobile phones inside the country on Wednesday and Thursday. No similar message was reported when calling landlines.

The messages were widely heard after Iran imposed nationwide temporary restrictions on internet access on Wednesday, citing security concerns. This meant WhatsApp was down, so people abroad began calling their friends and family in Iran directly, rather than via the app. The message is reportedly not heard if the call is made through an app.