The wave of Iranian protests entered its sixth day on Friday morning after Thursday saw the movement reach its peak with the highest death toll and expansion from Tehran to additional provinces across the country. US President Donald Trump tweeted today, "If Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go."
Numerous X accounts have flooded the network with protest videos from Iran, showing women who took to the streets with calls against the regime, as well as male and female students standing together against the government and the Revolutionary Guards. What began as a merchants' protest over the currency collapse has spread and transformed into a nationwide political opposition movement, worrying leadership that is trying to calm tensions at any cost, including by force, through tear gas and even live fire at protesters.
In one post uploaded to X, it was written, "The people are chanting for the return of the King. No chants against the West. No chants against Israel. Iran was hijacked by terrorists in 1979, and the people want their country back. Is the media only interested when protests attack Israel?"
Day 4 of protests in Iran.
The people are chanting for the return of the King.
No chants against the West.
No chants against Israel.
Iran was hijacked by terrorists in 1979, and the people want their country back. Is the media only interested when protests attack Israel? pic.twitter.com/YkAhxUuUXm— Sina (@SinaMihandoost) December 31, 2025
4:20 | Report: Protesters in Iran are setting fire to religious institutions.
Iranians in occupied Iran are burning down religious institutions because they're sick of Sharia Law.
Meanwhile terrorists in western countries are complaining about "Islamophobia" ???
Burn it all down.
Destroy the cancer once and for all.
Iran is not a Muslim country. pic.twitter.com/o0ZyX5kMXg
— Goldie Ghamari | گلسا قمری (@gghamari) January 2, 2026
5:15 | Iranian protesters are driving through the country's streets with the Lion and Sun flag (Iran's national flag until the 1979 revolution) that served the nation until the revolution in 1979 when it was replaced.
BREAKING: Iranians are flying the Lion and Sun flag in Iran. pic.twitter.com/njRI3z8LRG
— Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) January 2, 2026
7:32 | Iranian leader Khamenei lashes out at Israel and the US. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei accused the US of backing the "criminal Zionist regime" and encouraging wars around the world for fuel and resources.
?? BREAKING | Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei lashes out at the U.S., accusing Washington of betraying even its allies. He claims America backs the "criminal Zionist regime" in Palestine and fuels wars worldwide for oil and resources, now spreading its influence into pic.twitter.com/b08IGNS8Ck
— MS World News (@MSWorldNewmobz) January 2, 2026
8:25 | From age 15 to 37. The death toll in the last 24 hours in Iran at the hands of the Revolutionary Guards.
As predicted, the regime in Iran has turned to violence and murder to contain protesters.
In the last day, the following lives have been taken:
Mostafa, 15 years old
Amirhossein Khodayari, 22
Khodadad Shirvani, 37
Sajjad Valamanesh, 28
Vahab Ghaedi
Shayan Asadollahi, 28…— Ember (@ArisenEmber) January 2, 2026
8:37 | A video uploaded to X network apparently shows how a Revolutionary Guards member fires live rounds toward a civilian vehicle, while the driver pleads and calls for him to stop because his wife and children are with him.
Amid days-long nationwide protests in Iran, heavy clashes erupted Thursday in Marvdasht in Fars province, with video circulating on social media showing armed security forces firing at a civilian vehicle at close range as it drove through the area, with the driver shouting for… pic.twitter.com/jwj3bhYr5i
— The New Region (@thenewregion) January 2, 2026
10:05 | US President Trump tweeted, "If Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go."
10:50 | In Isfahan, funerals began for protesters killed by the regime. Events that often become protest events in themselves.
11:19 | Secretary of the National Security Council Ali Larijani responded to Trump, "With the positions taken by official elements in Israel and Trump, what's behind the scenes has now become clear. We view the positions of the protesting merchants separately from those of the destructive elements, and Trump should know that American interference in this internal matter is equivalent to chaos throughout the entire region and the destruction of American interests. The American people should know that Trump is the one who started the adventurism. They should worry about their soldiers."
12:06 | Another response to Trump's words came from Advisor to Khamenei Ali Shamkhani, a close associate of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and former Secretary of the National Security Council. "The Iranian people know very well the American 'rescues' – from Iraq and Afghanistan to Gaza. Any hand that tries to interfere under various pretexts and approach Iran's security will be cut off before it manages to arrive, and will receive a response that will cause it deep regret. Iran's national security is a red line – not material for adventurous tweets."
