Protests Continue in Iran; From Destroying the Statue of Qassem Soleimani to Lowering the Large Flag of the Islamic Republic in Mashhad

On Wednesday, January 7, 2025, there was again a widespread presence of people in the streets of various cities in Iran. Flowerjan, Mashhad, Tehran, Bandar Abbas, Shiraz, Nishapur, Lordegan, Abadan, Rasht, Bojnourd, Qazvin, Kerman, Gilan-e Gharb, Hamadan, Aligudarz, Boroujen, Astara, Chaboksar, Hasarak Karaj, Zahedan, Firuzkuh, Mehran, Bandar Kangan, Tonekabon, Chenaran, Sabzevar, Abhar, Khorramdarreh, Arsanjan, Ashkhaneh, Fariman, Fasa, and Saqqez were among the cities that participated in the eleventh day of anti-government protests against the Islamic Republic. The city of Mashhad witnessed a very enthusiastic presence of protesters, with a large crowd taking to the streets and chanting against the entirety of the Islamic Republic government. On Wednesday evening, young protesters pulled down the large flag of the 'Islamic Republic' from above the 'Fajr Bridge' and tore it into pieces. However, it was not only large cities like Mashhad and Tehran that hosted massive crowds. In a city like 'Aligudarz', a crowd came out that apparently surprised the residents of that city. In Kerman, a group of protesting citizens confronted the repressive forces with Molotov cocktails. Reports published on social media from the city of Drykbijar in Gilan province indicate that the shooting by repressive forces on Wednesday, January 7, resulted in between 2 to 4 deaths, with the names of two young men, Milad Gholamzadeh and Mobin Yaqoubzadeh, mentioned among the casualties. The Islamic Republic has a long history of killing protesting citizens, and Donald Trump has issued a clear warning regarding the killing of protesters by the Islamic Republic. The slogans were also diverse, similar to previous days, with a newly created slogan 'Khamenei the Killer, what a vain hope' gaining traction in several cities following Elon Musk's reaction to a tweet from Khamenei. Meanwhile, internet experts say that disruptions in the internet in Iran by the government have increased over the past 24 hours. The Persian account of the U.S. State Department on Wednesday posted a message titled 'Seven dollars for the people of Iran, billions for terror', calling the monthly payment of $7 to each Iranian to reduce public anger insulting, stating: 'The regime has sent over $1 billion to Hezbollah in just ten months. Iranians are told there is no money for their basic needs, but the Islamic Republic regime spares no expense in financing foreign terrorist groups. This blatant double standard shows where the real priorities of the Islamic Republic regime lie, and it is certainly not with the people of Iran.' The U.S. State Department also praised the action of an individual who symbolically changed the name of a street in Tehran to Trump, stating: 'The United States respects the voice of the people of Iran and their aspirations. We remain committed to supporting their efforts to achieve freedom, prosperity, and more opportunities.' The majority of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, January 7, posted a message on social media stating: 'The people of Iran have bravely risen against a repressive regime.' The message warned the ruling clerics that if the [regime] in Tehran violently suppresses peaceful protesters, justice will be swiftly executed against them. At the same time, Lindsey Graham, a senior Republican senator from South Carolina, in an interview with Fox News, warned Ali Khamenei, stating that Trump is not Obama, and if the Islamic Republic continues to kill its people, Trump will kill them. Mr. Graham added in his message to the people of Iran: 'We stand with you tonight, supporting you to take your country back from the ayatollahs, these religious Nazis who kill you and terrorize the world.' Following eleven days of nationwide protests in Iran, Britain also issued a statement on Wednesday warning its citizens to absolutely avoid traveling to Iran. Britain has advised those of its citizens who are in Iran to carefully assess their presence in Iran and the dangers they face by staying there. Merchants in Tabriz and several other cities have joined the strikes; workers in South Pars have also gone on strike. The White House has warned the regime about the suppression of protests in Iran: The President of the United States is serious about implementing his warning. Users' reactions to the 'bluster' of the Islamic Republic's National Defense Council. Alireza Firouzi: In the past 24 hours, we have faced severe disruptions in the internet in Iran.