Iranian protesters call for US, Israeli action as unrest expands

“If the Islamic Republic falls, peace will return and there will be calm in the world.”

By World Israel News Staff

As anti-regime protests in Iran enter their second week and continue to intensify, opponents of the ayatollah-led regime have spoken publicly about what they describe as a historic moment, expressing hope that the United States and Israel will intervene in support of the demonstrators and help bring about the collapse of the Islamic Republic.

In interviews aired Saturday night on Israel’s Channel 12 News, three Iranian citizens from different cities described a growing sense of determination on the streets and a sharp decline in fear, even as the regime escalates its crackdown.

Dariush, a 50-year-old resident of Tehran, said the protests feel fundamentally different from previous waves of unrest.

“This time, people are not afraid to go out,” he said. “The absence of fear comes from the support of the Israeli government. I am asking the American government, and Israel in particular, to help the Iranian people. If the Islamic Republic falls, peace will return and there will be calm in the world.”

Arash, 30, also from Tehran, argued that outside pressure is essential to tipping the balance against the regime.

“One solution is to bring the United States to our side, the Trump administration, to strike missile factories and completely destroy them,” he said. “Alongside that, on the ground, the only thing Israel itself needs is a series of limited, precise intelligence operations to help the Iranian people win.”

Hussein, a 48-year-old resident of Karaj, said Iranian society has reached a breaking point. “The people are already at the edge and have the intention to overthrow the regime,” he said.

“As the protests continue, the pressure from the public is growing, and the repression is becoming harsher.” He directed a warning at Iran’s security forces, particularly the police: “Know what you are doing. Tomorrow, if the despicable regime of the Islamic Republic falls, you will have to give an account.”

The comments came as international rhetoric surrounding the unrest has sharpened. On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump warned Tehran that Washington would respond if Iranian authorities use lethal force against demonstrators.

Writing on Truth Social, Trump said that if Iran “shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue,” adding that the U.S. is “locked and loaded and ready to go.” He ended the message with, “Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Senior regime figures quickly pushed back against Trump’s warning. Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, wrote on X that “any interventionist hand that attacks Iran’s security under any pretext whatsoever will be exposed to a response,” adding that Iran’s security is “a red line.”

Israel has also publicly aligned itself with the protesters. On Friday, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted a message in Persian expressing solidarity with the Iranian people, saying they deserve to live in freedom and emphasizing, “We are with you.” The message followed Trump’s warning and underscored Israel’s increasingly vocal support for the demonstrators.

As protests spread across multiple cities, they are unfolding alongside rising regional tensions and increasingly explicit signals from Washington and Jerusalem, reinforcing a growing belief among demonstrators that the regime is entering a far more precarious phase.