Iranian Diaspora Mobilises Across U.S. as Protests Over Deadly Crackdown Intensify

Source: AFP

Thousands of members of the Iranian diaspora took to the streets across major cities in the United States over the weekend, staging coordinated demonstrations against the Iranian government’s violent suppression of anti-government protests back home. The largest turnout was recorded in Los Angeles, widely regarded as the global hub of the Iranian diaspora, while smaller but vocal rallies were held in New York and other urban centres.

In Los Angeles, demonstrators filled key streets with placards and chants condemning what they described as systematic violence by Iranian security forces. Protest messages accused the authorities of large-scale human rights abuses and demanded international accountability. Many participants were Iranian-Americans who said the events unfolding in Iran had personal consequences for their families and communities.

Several protesters shared emotional accounts of relatives affected by the unrest. For many in exile, the demonstrations were not symbolic but deeply personal, reflecting years of political repression, economic hardship, and forced migration. Protesters described feelings of anger, grief, and helplessness as reports of civilian deaths continued to emerge from Iran.

The overseas rallies follow weeks of unrest in Iran, initially triggered by worsening economic conditions before escalating into nationwide protests widely seen as the most serious challenge to the country’s leadership in years. Human rights organisations operating outside Iran have reported thousands of deaths, warning that the real toll may be significantly higher due to restricted media access and a prolonged communications blackout imposed by the authorities.

Within the U.S. protests, opinions diverged on what role Washington should play. Some demonstrators openly called for stronger U.S. intervention, including tougher action against Iran’s security institutions, while others cautioned against foreign interference, citing historical precedents that left lasting scars on the country. Chants and signs reflected both camps, underscoring deep divisions within the diaspora itself.

The demonstrations also revived debates around Iran’s political future. Some protesters expressed support for exiled opposition figures and a return to pre-revolutionary governance structures, while others rejected any externally imposed leadership, insisting that change must come from within Iran. Business owners, academics, and professionals within the diaspora stressed that solidarity should not override the Iranian people’s right to self-determination.

Tensions around the protests spilled over in recent days, with isolated incidents reported at diaspora gatherings, highlighting how emotionally charged and polarised the issue has become among Iranians abroad. Despite these divisions, participants broadly agreed on one point: the current crisis has exposed the depth of suffering inside Iran and the limits faced by those seeking refuge abroad, particularly amid restrictive immigration policies.

For many in the diaspora, the marches were as much about visibility as protest, an attempt to keep global attention on Iran at a time when international focus shifts quickly. As one demonstrator put it, silence, both inside and outside Iran, is exactly what enables repression to continue.