Iranian demonstrators intensified nationwide protests on Jan. 7, 2026, circulating videos that directly appealed to President Donald Trump and denounced Iran’s leadership.
One clip shared by diaspora media appeared to show a protester in Tehran symbolically renaming a street after the former U.S. president, while handwritten signs read, “Don’t let them kill us.” Activists and local outlets reported clashes in multiple cities as security forces used crowd-control measures and detained demonstrators.
Rights groups and independent media said casualty and arrest figures continued to climb during the latest wave of unrest. Estimates varied by source, but activists reported at least 36 people killed since the protests began, with more than 2,000 arrests nationwide. Iranian authorities did not release a comprehensive tally.
Videos, slogans and symbolic gestures
Footage circulating on Persian-language channels and social platforms showed protesters chanting anti-government slogans and displaying messages addressed to Trump.
In one widely shared segment, a demonstrator placed a temporary street placard bearing his name, a symbolic act that echoed earlier instances of civil resistance in Tehran’s public spaces.
Other clips captured handwritten appeals and wall slogans, including the line “Don’t let them kill us.” These images were amplified by journalists, analysts and diaspora networks that have tracked the demonstrations as they spread beyond the capital.
Casualty reports and arrests
Human rights monitors cited by international media reported a death toll in the high 20s to mid 30s, including a small number of security personnel. Arrests reached into the thousands as of this week, with detentions described across western provinces and major urban centers.
Outlets that compiled tallies stressed that the figures came from activist networks and could not be independently verified.
Authorities confirmed limited casualties among security forces, but they did not provide a public count of protesters killed or arrested. That information gap has left independent groups to publish their own running totals, which differ by date and methodology.
Pahlavi’s message and cities involved
Exiled opposition figure Reza Pahlavi told U.S. audiences the unrest represented a historic opportunity for change driven by Iranians inside the country.
He said participation had broadened and pointed to merchants, students and workers as key constituencies. Pahlavi also highlighted activity within the country’s bazaars, describing developments there as a turning point.
Over the past day, activist channels and local outlets reported continued protests and strikes in cities including Tehran, Tabriz, Qazvin, Kermanshah, Kerman, Shiraz, Falavarjan and Bandar Abbas. The list reflected reports from opposition-linked networks and diaspora media, which have often been first to publish video from street-level demonstrations.
Security response and claims of tear gas near civilian sites
Witness accounts described the use of tear gas and other crowd-control tools around commercial areas, including the Grand Bazaar in Tehran.
Shops closed and sit-ins were reported as crowds confronted security forces. In some footage, gas was seen near or inside civilian locations such as Sina Hospital and the Plasco Shopping Center, prompting concern among medical staff and shoppers.
Iranian media carried statements suggesting gas drifted toward sensitive sites during dispersal operations, while officials denied deliberate targeting of hospitals. International outlets noted the difficulty of verifying each video, and they cautioned that visuals from crowded urban settings can be hard to geolocate in real time.
