Protests in Iran and Calls for Support

Protesters in Iran are urging President Donald Trump to keep his promise to defend them against Tehran’s oppressive regime. This plea comes amid escalating violence from Iranian security forces and a growing death toll, according to human rights organizations.

The Human Rights Defenders News Agency (HRANA) reports that at least 29 individuals have died and around 1,200 have been arrested during the ongoing protests. The unrest is fueled by widespread anger over the failing economy, the regime’s misguided priorities, and the ineptitude of Iranian civil servants. In Tehran, for instance, severe water shortages have left the city on the brink of evacuation for months.

Last Friday, as the situation intensified and began to threaten the power of the theocracy, President Trump stated that if Iran “violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom,” U.S. forces would be “locked down, loaded, and ready to go.”

On Sunday, the U.S. Department of State issued a warning to Iran, advising Trump against “playing games” after U.S. forces detained Venezuela’s dictator, Nicolas Maduro.

A video that went viral on social media showed protesters calling for U.S. protection, with signs reading “Trump, symbol of peace, don’t let them kill us.” The images spread quickly across Iranian and international platforms.

The National Council of Iranian Resistance (NCRI) reports that protests are ongoing, with two cities, Abdanan and Malekshahi, effectively “occupied” by demonstrators. They stated that in several instances, protesters successfully compelled regime forces to retreat.

Maryam Rajavi, the president of the NCRI, stated, “From city to city across Iran, sparks are turning into open uprisings.” She added, “The voices of Iran’s streets, bazaars, and universities are one voice: ‘Freedom, freedom.’ This is a fire that cannot be put out.”

On Tuesday, Amnesty International confirmed reports that regime security forces assaulted a hospital in Iram, where injured protesters were receiving treatment. They condemned this action as “unlawful use of force,” highlighting the extreme measures Iranian authorities are willing to take against dissent.

A similar incident occurred at Sina Hospital in Tehran, where security forces were seen intimidating patients and their families.

Witnesses reported on Radio Farda about the regime’s brutal response. During a demonstration on January 3, when protesters threw stones at a building used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), troops on the roof fired into the crowd.

One eyewitness, Mohammad Heidari al-Ilami, recalled that initially, many thought it was an airstrike until they saw people falling from the shots. He mentioned, “Many innocent people, especially young people, were killed, and many were injured.” The independent human rights monitor indicated that five protesters died and many others suffered injuries during the clash.

Radio Farda reported that the Revolutionary Guards participated in the assault on the hospital, a situation condemned by Amnesty International. Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene where medical staff and civilians faced violence from security forces trying to recover bodies and arrest the wounded.

The Chief Justice of Iran, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, issued a stern warning: “There will be no mercy for those who help enemies of the Islamic Republic.” The regime is struggling to differentiate between “legitimate” protesters, whose grievances they are willing to address, and “insurgents,” labeled as foreign agents by the government.

“There is no excuse for people coming to the streets to riot in the wake of announcements by Israel and the president of the United States,” Ejei stated, interpreting Trump’s support for the demonstrators as proof of foreign intervention.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his backing for the protesters, saying, “We may very well be at a moment when the Iranian people are taking their destiny into their own hands.”

Meanwhile, Iran’s state-run Fars news agency reported that some demonstrators have resorted to vandalism, including destroying banks and looting stores, while confronting police attempting to disperse them.