This needs to happen here as well.
Anti-government protests are rapidly intensifying across Iran, and in a striking development, demonstrators are now openly appealing to Donald Trump as a symbol of support against the country’s ruling regime.
Videos circulating online over the past 24 hours show Iranian protesters chanting against their government while referencing President Trump by name. In one widely shared clip from Tehran, a protester symbolically renamed a street in Trump’s honor — a rare and bold act of defiance inside the Islamic Republic.
Other footage captured handwritten messages addressed directly to the former U.S. president, including pleas reading, “Don’t let them kill us,” according to reports from Iran International.
Analysts say the gestures reflect growing desperation — and growing hope — among Iranians who view Trump as a global figure willing to confront Tehran’s hardline leadership.
Holly Dagres, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute, shared the footage on social media, noting a surge in public expressions of gratitude toward President Trump since he commented on the protests.
She said multiple videos have surfaced showing demonstrators thanking Trump or honoring him symbolically as unrest spreads across the country.
Meanwhile, Iran’s government has responded with an aggressive security crackdown. Armed units and riot police have been deployed in major cities, including Tehran, with tear gas reportedly used near crowded civilian locations in an effort to suppress demonstrations.
WATCH:
Since Trump’s comments about the Iran protests, I’ve seen numerous videos of Iranian protesters either thanking him or, in this case, renaming streets after the US president. pic.twitter.com/aWsQV5N8fQ
— Holly Dagres (@hdagres) January 7, 2026
Exiled opposition leader Reza Pahlavi said the unrest marks a turning point in Iran’s modern history. Speaking Tuesday on Hannity, Pahlavi said he has never witnessed conditions this favorable for meaningful change.
“The Iranian people are more determined than ever to bring this regime to an end,” he said, describing the demonstrations as unprecedented in size and intensity.
According to Pahlavi, protests have now spread to more than 100 cities nationwide. He emphasized the importance of unrest inside Iran’s traditional merchant class, pointing to growing resistance within major bazaars — long considered pillars of regime stability.
“We are seeing more defections,” Pahlavi said. “Either way, the regime is crumbling and very close to collapse.”
Iran International reports that protests and labor disruptions are continuing in Bandar Abbas, Shiraz, Tehran, Kerman, Tabriz, Qazvin, Kermanshah, and Falavarjan. Tehran’s Grand Bazaar remains a key meeting place, with large crowds openly criticizing the nation’s leadership.
Security operations have expanded into sensitive civilian areas. Video footage shows tear gas deployed near or inside Tehran’s Sina Hospital and the Plasco Shopping Center, fueling further public anger.
Human rights groups say the number of casualties and detentions continues to grow. The Human Rights Activists News Agency estimates that at least 36 people have died since the unrest began, with more than 2,000 individuals taken into custody across the country. Iranian officials have yet to publish updated figures.
New footage from Shiraz shows demonstrators lighting street fires and chanting “Death to Khamenei,” targeting Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In Qazvin, protesters were heard calling on law enforcement to abandon the regime and stand with the people.
Labor unrest is also spreading. Workers reportedly staged strikes at the South Pars gas refinery, while widespread shop closures were observed across major markets in Tehran and Tabriz — a sign that economic pressure on Iran’s ruling elite is accelerating.