Iranian Protesters Rename Tehran Street After Trump Amid Deadly Crackdown
TEHRAN, Iran — Across Iran, protesters have escalated their demonstrations against the ruling regime, with footage emerging of a Tehran street being symbolically renamed after former President Donald Trump. The acts of defiance come amid a sweeping security crackdown that has left dozens dead and over a thousand detained, as demonstrators plead for international intervention to prevent further bloodshed.
Videos circulating on social media, including one shared by Holly Dagres, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute, show Iranian citizens holding handwritten signs that read, “Don’t let them kill us,” alongside chants directly appealing to Trump. These gestures reflect a rare and poignant appeal to the former U.S. leader, who has publicly commented on the protests.
The unrest has spread to more than 100 cities, including Tehran, Tabriz, Qazvin, Kermanshah, Kerman, Shiraz, Falavarjan, and Bandar Abbas. Tehran’s Grand Bazaar, a historic commercial hub, has become a focal point for large-scale protests, with crowds vocally opposing the Islamic Republic’s leadership. Security forces have responded with tear gas and armed deployments, even extending operations into sensitive civilian areas such as Tehran’s Sina Hospital and the Plasco Shopping Center.
According to reports from the Human Rights Activists News Agency, cited by Iran International, at least 36 people have been killed since the protests began, including 34 demonstrators and two members of Iran’s security forces. More than 1,200 individuals have been detained nationwide. The Human Rights Watch has condemned the use of lethal force against peaceful protesters and called for accountability.
Exiled Iranian opposition leader Reza Pahlavi described the current moment as a historic opportunity to end the Islamic Republic. Speaking on Fox News’s “Hannity,” Pahlavi said, “In all these years, I’ve never seen an opportunity as we see today in Iran.” He emphasized the unprecedented scale of demonstrations and the growing role of Iran’s traditional merchant class in the bazaars, signaling a potential turning point. “We are beginning to see more and more defections,” Pahlavi said. “Either way, the regime is crumbling and is very close to collapsing.”
Meanwhile, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham posted a photo on social media of himself with Trump holding a signed “Make Iran Great Again” hat, signaling continued U.S. political interest in the unrest. The Senate’s official website confirms Graham’s active engagement on foreign policy issues concerning Iran.
The appeals to Trump and the symbolic renaming of a Tehran street underscore the protesters’ hope that international pressure might influence the regime’s behavior. The U.S. Department of State’s 2025 Human Rights Report on Iran highlights ongoing repression, including arbitrary arrests and suppression of freedom of expression.
As the situation remains volatile, international observers continue to monitor the crackdown closely. The United Nations Human Rights Council has urged Iran to respect the rights of peaceful protesters and called for an independent investigation into the deaths.
With the regime’s grip weakening under mounting internal pressure and widespread public dissent, the coming days may prove critical for Iran’s future. Protesters’ direct appeals to foreign leaders and the visible cracks within Iran’s social and economic structures suggest a nation at a crossroads.
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