Media: Iranian diaspora voices support for protests back home

Iranian communities abroad have expressed solidarity with anti-government protests taking place in Iran.

According to Iran International, Iranians in several countries staged demonstrations over the weekend. In Canada, rallies were held in Calgary and Sudbury, with participants chanting slogans including “Long live Iran.”

In London, a protester replaced the flag of the Islamic Republic at the Iranian embassy with the historic “Lion and Sun” flag, which was used prior to the 1979 revolution.

A similar act took place in Munich, where a group of Iranians displayed the same historic flag outside the Iranian consulate.

Iran has entered a third week of nationwide anti-government demonstrations, with nearly 500 people reported dead, according to a US-based human rights organisation. Authorities have imposed a communications blackout that has now lasted more than three days, limiting the flow of information from the country.

The unrest has drawn international attention. US President Donald Trump said that Iran had “called to negotiate” as Washington considers potential military options in response to the crisis. Iran’s foreign minister responded, stating that Tehran is open to talks with the US based on “mutual respect and interests.”

Protests have also sparked incidents abroad. In Los Angeles, police detained a driver who reportedly drove a truck into a crowd of demonstrators opposing the Iranian government.

Meanwhile, in Tehran, the British ambassador was summoned after a protest in London saw demonstrators tear down the Iranian embassy’s flag.

By Aghakazim Guliyev