Iranian protesters intensified nationwide demonstrations over the past 24 hours, issuing direct appeals to President Donald Trump while chanting anti-regime slogans and defying an expanding security crackdown.
Footage published on Wednesday showed a protester in Tehran symbolically renaming a street after Trump.
Other videos also captured handwritten messages to Trump, reading, “Don’t let them kill us,” according to Iran International.
Holly Dagres, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute, shared one clip on X, writing:
“Since Trump’s comments about the Iran protests, I’ve seen numbers videos of Iranian protesters either thanking him or, in this case, renaming streets after the US president.”
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
The renewed appeals came as armed security units and tear gas were deployed near major civilian areas in the capital.
Exiled opposition figure Reza Pahlavi said the uprising represents a historic moment for the Iranian people.
“In all these years, I’ve never seen an opportunity as we see today in Iran,” Pahlavi said in an interview aired Tuesday on Fox News’s “Hannity.”
He said demonstrations have spread to more than 100 cities and described unrest inside Iran’s traditional bazaars as a decisive shift.
“We are beginning to see more and more defections,” Pahlavi said.
“Either way, the regime is crumbling and is very close to collapsing.”
Iran International reported continued protests and strikes across multiple cities over the past day, including Tehran, Tabriz, Qazvin, Kermanshah, Kerman, Shiraz, Falavarjan, and Bandar Abbas.
Tehran’s Grand Bazaar again emerged as a central protest hub.
Large crowds are chanting against the regime as authorities respond with tear gas and armed deployments.
Security crackdowns extended into civilian locations.
Videos shared by Iran International showed tear gas deployed near or inside Tehran’s Sina Hospital and the Plasco Shopping Center.
Casualty figures continued to rise.
The Human Rights Activists News Agency, cited by Iran International on Wednesday, reported at least 36 people killed since demonstrations began, including 34 protesters and two members of Iran’s security forces, along with more than 2,000 arrests nationwide.
Iranian authorities have not released updated official totals.
New footage from the past 24 hours showed protesters in Shiraz lighting street fires and chanting “Death to Khamenei.”
Demonstrators in Qazvin were heard shouting:
“Law enforcement, return to the side of the nation.”
Workers have also joined the unrest, with strikes reported at the South Pars gas refinery and widespread marketplace closures in Tehran and Tabriz as protests continue to expand across the country.
READ MORE – Iranian Protesters Have ‘Taken’ 2 Cities, Call on Trump for Help Battling Islamic Regime
Our comment section is restricted to members of the Slay News community only.
To join, create a free account HERE.
If you are already a member, log in HERE.