In the last 24 hours, protests across Iran have gained momentum, with demonstrators directly reaching out to President Donald Trump while voicing anti-regime sentiments. Videos shared on Wednesday depict a protester in Tehran symbolically renaming a street in Trump’s honor. Other clips reveal handwritten messages pleading, “Don’t let them kill us,” according to Iran International.

Holly Dagres, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute, noted this development in a post on X. She commented, “Following Trump’s remarks on the Iran protests, I’ve seen numerous videos of Iranian protesters either expressing gratitude or, as in this instance, renaming streets after the US president.”

These appeals arise amidst an escalating security crackdown, with government forces deploying armed units and using tear gas in key civilian areas around Tehran.

Reza Pahlavi, an exiled leader of the Iranian opposition, has termed the current turmoil as a pivotal moment to dismantle Iran’s Islamic Republic.

“In all my years, I have never witnessed an opportunity like the one unfolding in Iran today,” Pahlavi remarked during an interview on “Hannity” that aired on Tuesday.

“Iranian people are more than ever committed to bringing an end to this regime, as the world has witnessed in the last few days, the level of demonstrations is unprecedented in Iran,” he said.

Pahlavi said protests have spread to more than 100 cities and emphasized the role of Iran’s traditional merchant class, describing developments inside the country’s bazaars as a turning point. “We are beginning to see more and more defections,” Pahlavi said, adding that “Either way, the regime is crumbling and is very close to collapsing.”

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., posted a photo of himself posing with President Donald Trump, who is holding a signed “Make Iran Great Again” hat. (Lindsey Graham / X)

Over the past 24 hours, Iran International reported continued protests and strikes across the country, including in Tehran, Tabriz, Qazvin, Kermanshah, Kerman, Shiraz, Falavarjan and Bandar Abbas. Tehran’s Grand Bazaar remained a focal point of unrest, with large crowds chanting against Iran’s leadership as authorities responded with tear gas and armed deployments.

Security operations expanded into sensitive civilian locations. Videos published by Iran International showed tear gas used near or inside Tehran’s Sina Hospital and the Plasco Shopping Center.

Protesters hold signs during a demonstration in Iran amid ongoing unrest, according to images released by the Iranian opposition group National Council of Resistance of Iran. (NCRI )

Casualty and arrest figures continued to rise. The Human Rights Activists News Agency, cited by Iran International on Wednesday, reported at least 36 people killed since protests began, including 34 protesters and two members of Iran’s security forces, with more than 2,000 arrests nationwide. Iranian authorities have not released updated official figures.

New footage from the past day showed demonstrators lighting fires in the streets of Shiraz and chanting “Death to Khamenei,” referring to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In Qazvin, protesters were heard chanting, “Law enforcement, return to the side of the nation.”

Iranian protesters try to take control of two cities in western Iran as nationwide unrest continues, with demonstrators chanting ‘Death to Khamenei’ in the streets. (Getty)

Workers also joined the unrest, with strikes reported at the South Pars gas refinery and widespread shop closures at major markets in Tehran and Tabriz.