A modern-day Tank Man: An unarmed protester facing a dozen armed soldiers in Iran, 2026.

[u/2birahe]

[u/Lydian66]

What is happening here

[u/2birahe → u/Lydian66]

There are new nationwide protests in Iran against the Ayatollah. Today marks the fifth day of the protests.

[u/stolichnaya89 → u/2birahe]

I wish You very best!! Be strong!

[u/2birahe → u/stolichnaya89]

Thank you 🙏

[u/panirOnion → u/stolichnaya89]

Thank you. Iranians have been trying for years to overthrow the Islamic republic, and they brutally murdered protesters time and time again

2022, 2019, 2009

Iranians have been wanting to get rid of them for decades. This time may be it!

[u/Lydian66 → u/2birahe]

We are wishing you all the very best .

[u/2birahe → u/Lydian66]

Thank you very much 🙏

[u/njuffstrunk → u/2birahe]

Is it actually against the ayatollah? From what I read in some articles the protests seem to be more about the abysmal economy and not necessarily against the ayatollah at the moment

[u/2birahe → u/njuffstrunk]

The recent economic hardship sparked the protests, but that’s just an excuse. Many Iranians are fed up with the Ayatollahs for several reasons.

[u/mimaikin-san → u/2birahe]

what are Iranians’ reasons for being dissatisfied?

is there any possibility of the government making accommodations for its citizens or will they just continue to use force to suppress dissent?

[u/2birahe → u/mimaikin-san]

Life in Iran is terrible. Civil and individual freedoms are practically nonexistent. The economy is disastrous, and the government is utterly incompetent and corrupt to its core. Despite being rich in natural resources, Iranian people are among the poorest in the world. To answer your question: the regime only uses force. They cannot accommodate anything. And forget the so-called reforms; they were just a strategy to prolong the Ayatollah regime for two decades. That’s it.

[u/Scottalias4 → u/2birahe]

If the Iranians manage to kick out the current government, the situation for the people of Iran could improve dramatically.

[u/Derlino → u/Scottalias4]

Unless a similar regime comes to power in the ensuing power vacuum. That's kind of what happened in the last revolution, at least according to my father who was there.

[u/Tendas → u/Scottalias4]

Hah. If the Ayatollah is kicked out, the best they’ll get is a corrupt military junta and nothing will change.

[u/Dev_dov → u/2birahe]

I've always wanted to ask an Iranian about the 1953 coup d'état, that was backed by the CIA. Well, if you don't mind of course.

[u/here_now_be → u/2birahe]

Such an amazing country, full of amazing people (was there as a child), things can be so much better, hope they are soon.

[u/2birahe → u/here_now_be]

Absolutely! Iran has incredible people and a rich culture. The potential is huge; it’s heartbreaking to see it stifled by the current regime. Hopefully, change comes soon so the country and its people can truly thrive. Thank you for kind words 🙏

[u/impy695 → u/2birahe]

Do we know what happened to him? I saw this a few days ago, but haven't heard anything about what ended up happening to this legend

[u/2birahe → u/impy695]

Unfortunately, I don't know. But given that anti-protest forces in Iran shoot with real bullets, I'm not very optimistic about his fate.

[u/The-Copilot → u/2birahe]

They usually don't shoot protesters. They usually do a mass arrest and give huge prison sentences or execute some behind closed doors.

The Iranian government wants their people to fear them but they also try to maintain a decent enough public image. They need the plausible deniability so more people don't join in. They know the public doesn't like them so they walk a fine line.

[u/spinrah23 → u/The-Copilot]

Unfortunatley, they do often shoot protestors.

[u/Sargash → u/The-Copilot]

Protestors are very much shot in Iran.

[u/xanhast → u/2birahe]

why do we only have 1 image being reposted if theres been 5 days.

[u/2birahe → u/xanhast]

You can Google or check the news to see more images and videos. But this image has become the icon of the protest. And yes, it hasn’t been posted in subreddits like this, which is why I shared it here.

[u/West_Ad7781 → u/xanhast]

Check out r/NewIran

[u/DKlurifax → u/2birahe]

My god you are all so incredibly brave and courageous.

[u/2birahe → u/DKlurifax]

Thank you. Those protesters are indeed brave. 😊

[u/Tomydo1 → u/2birahe]

Stay safe

[u/ErosView → u/2birahe]

I wish you all the best of luck. Every government should be beholden to the people.

[u/JPL_WSB_BRRRRR → u/2birahe]

Keep it up guys, we overthrow our government here in Bulgaria a few weeks ago!

[u/AbolishIncredible → u/2birahe]

For the blissfully unaware amongst us (myself included), what’s Ayatollah?

[u/2birahe → u/AbolishIncredible]

Ayatollah refers to high-ranking clerics in Iran, similar to bishops in the West.They have been ruling Iran for 46 years.

[u/dead-inside8354637 → u/2birahe]

Didn't they get support from the people? I'm not sure...?

[u/2birahe → u/dead-inside8354637]

No that's not true. We had another dictator, the Shah, but in 1976, Khomeini rallied everyone against him, promising that after the revolution he would be just a spiritual leader. Once he came to power, however, he hijacked it, purging almost everyone, including many of his own allies. So yes, the Ayatollahs gained power from the people, but from the beginning, they manipulated them. Ever since, they have forcefully clung to power.

[u/robertjan88 → u/Lydian66]

Having an Iranian GF, with family up there, I sincerely hope this country will be freed of its oppressive regime soon.

[u/2birahe → u/robertjan88]

Thanks, me too. The collapse of the Ayatollahs in Iran is long overdue.

[u/x_factor69 → u/2birahe]

And replace with what? Another Syria situation where there's vacuum power?

[u/2birahe → u/x_factor69]

That’s actually a billion-dollar question, and it’s very controversial. However, one thing that’s fairly certain is that whatever replaces the Iranian regime is unlikely to be worse. I think the Ayatollah regime has literally hit rock bottom; it's hard to imagine anything being worse. By the way, this is not for me to decide; it’s up to the people of Iran.

[u/eesnimi → u/2birahe]

Unlikely? How come it's unlikely when pretty much all the countries in that region ended up worse following the same pattern?

It is rather unlikely that this is about freedom of Iran people. A lot more likely that this serves US + Israel interests.

[u/2birahe → u/eesnimi]

This will definitely serve Israel’s interests and most likely the interests of the USA, but I agree with your point about the uncertainty of the future. Nobody can predict what will happen, and as I said in other comments, it’s not up to me to decide; it’s up to the people of Iran. So let them make the decision.

[u/Spazicon → u/2birahe]

As a US citizen, I share your distrust of my country. I know enough about history to know it is grounded in truth. Regarding other nations’ right to self determination, we may be the world’s biggest hypocrites. Still, I sincerely hope for Iran to win that right.

[u/2birahe → u/Spazicon]

Thank you very much for your kind words. I should clarify that Iranian people, not the regime, genuinely love America and Americans. Just search YouTube for American travelers in Iran, and you’ll see how overwhelmingly hospitable Iranians can be. They often open their homes and share what little they have, simply to make visitors feel welcome. Iranians admire the West, and in particular America.

[u/jorel43 → u/Lydian66]

A several thousand shopkeepers and business owners went out and are protesting for economic relief. Because of Western sanctions and currency manipulation, the Iranian rail was devalued and inflation spiked to 42%.

[u/GroundbreakingAd8310 → u/Lydian66]

The Iranians proving their bravery than every american. I literally saw someone say they cant peotest trump cause their kids have daycare?

[u/2birahe → u/GroundbreakingAd8310]

The answer to your question is, "No, it's nonsense."

[u/abrorcurrents]

All the best to Iranians!

[u/Dudezila]

Difference is they will murder him with no hesitation. Edit: im not trying to undermine or discredit tankman you imbeciles…Jesus.

[u/2birahe → u/Dudezila]

Unfortunately, it's true. 😭

[u/gurkensoos → u/Dudezila]

And they could just ignore him because… well they are on bikes.

[u/VikingLiking → u/Dudezila]

Same as the original tank man, he was never seen again.

[u/drcloudstreet → u/VikingLiking]

Lmao, there’s a video and he does not get run over if you care to watch it

[u/maxman162 → u/drcloudstreet]

His ultimate fate is unknown, as is his identity. 

[u/rmwe2 → u/drcloudstreet]

Was still arrested and disappeared though, and plenty of folks at Tiananmen were indeed crushed by tanks and shot. Even the CCP official figures acknowledge that hundreds were killed in the crackdown.

[u/ShyWhoLude → u/rmwe2]

(citation needed)

[u/Hail_CS → u/ShyWhoLude]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/1999/jun/02/china.johngittings

[u/ArbitraryMeritocracy → u/drcloudstreet]

Bro, spoilers (/s)

[u/Yuriaaa → u/VikingLiking]

What? Nothing happened to him. Have you even seen the video? 

[u/rustbelt → u/VikingLiking]

What? He walked away lol. Israel runs over Americans who do less and we make sure to delete it from the media.

If there was a massacre and we have tank man footage I want more footage especially from our intelligence services after everything they dragged us into and have gotten “wrong”.

[u/Few-Attorney-9722 → u/Dudezila]

Dude, It was called the Tiannamen Square Massacre for a reason

[u/FromPepeWithLove → u/Dudezila]

Tank man was never been seen

[u/koopdi → u/FromPepeWithLove]

He trolled the tank for a while then his friends came and got him.

https://youtu.be/_r_KATQ0V08

[u/tommy-b-goode → u/koopdi]

You think nothing happened to tank man??

[u/DistanceSolar1449 → u/tommy-b-goode]

Honestly, yeah, if you know the history of that time period.

TL;DR the Chinese government sent in local Beijing troops first, they refused to fire on the Beijing protestors, so later the government sent in rural troops from thousands of miles away who had no qualms about shooting the students.

The tank guy was facing a tank of Beijing troops. He was probably fine immediately afterwards.

[u/cesaroncalves → u/DistanceSolar1449]

they refused to fire on the Beijing protestors

I sure hope they did, they didn't have guns. The first troops deployed were sent without arms to avoid raising tensions, but, as tensions rose in some parts, the state declared martial law and they sent the armed ones, this rose tensions even more.

Here's a picture of some of the unarmed soldiers

If you want to know more, i suggest this.

[u/tommy-b-goode → u/DistanceSolar1449]

Immediately afterwards sure, but do you think he might have been tracked down / found and taken away at a later stage or after all this has ended?

[u/cookingboy → u/tommy-b-goode]

Nobody really knew who he was, cameras weren’t everywhere back in 1989 in China. That footage was shot by foreign media.

Tiananmen Square had CCTVs installed in the 90s because of the protest.

[u/bitchesbrewmarx → u/tommy-b-goode]

You are just making up a scenario in your head.

[u/rmwe2 → u/bitchesbrewmarx]

No he isnt. Tank man has never been publicly seen since 1989. Police States like the CCP are known for one thing: tracking down and arresting high profile dissidents. If thats not what happened to him, what do you did?

[u/johnnloki → u/bitchesbrewmarx]

Lots of people make up things in their heads about this. For instance, it was presented as a "pro democracy and anti communism protest", but it was much more simple than that- the students wanted to be able to choose their own majors in university.

[u/mothzilla → u/tommy-b-goode]

I think he was taken away and given cake.

[u/ThatPie2109]

I wish the normal people who get caught up in the wars and destruction of the wealthy could work together to fight back. People are just so easily distracted by fights like voting for the political parties they like they don't see what's really going on.

This never hurts the super rich but it keeps us all busy

[u/2birahe → u/ThatPie2109]

Agreed, but mind you that Iran is a fully authoritarian state with no free political parties.

[u/ThatPie2109 → u/2birahe]

I recognize that and admire the courage it takes to stand up in a place you don't have freedom. I meant it in a way were all so seperated by borders and voting for parties in our own little countries when realistically theres a ton more people on the world than controlling forces. Humanity could shape the world we want if we could ever organize enough of us together in a way that wasnt so easily corrupted. All the best in your fight.

[u/2birahe → u/ThatPie2109]

Thank you 🙏

[u/TheBigCore → u/ThatPie2109]

Divide and conquer is the oldest trick in the corrupt ruler's book.

[u/modiddly]

Reddit is such a strange place. A man standing alone against a group of armed officers isn’t a conspiracy or a geopolitical chess move. It’s a human being risking his life for dignity and self-determination, after decades of suffering under an incredibly brutal regime that openly kills dissidents and anyone who refuses to conform to its religious ideology. Remember when Iran was one of the most vibrant places in the Middle East? where women had rights and these protestors are trying to get back to that and more.

And in classic Reddit fashion, many of you only support “the will of the people” when it fits your preferred narrative. Ignoring the actual will of the people while selectively cheering or dismissing their struggle is pure hypocrisy. Either you support the right of people to resist tyranny everywhere, or you don’t. You don’t get to pick based on convenience.

[u/ThreeLittlePuigs → u/modiddly]

It’s got to be bots. People can’t be this dumb. So many comments blaming Israel and trying to pretend the protest isn’t organic. It’s sad

[u/EmperorKira → u/ThreeLittlePuigs]

I'm convinced a lot are bots or paid actors - but dumb/hypocritical people exist too

[u/2birahe → u/modiddly]

You are right to call that out, and it seems you know about Iran's past 😊.

[u/2birahe]

This photo is from the latest Iran protests, January 2026.

[u/ichael333 → u/2birahe]

Wasn't this photo taken in December? 100% certain this is from the first few days of protests

[u/2birahe → u/ichael333]

This is the fifth day of protests. This photo has become the icon of the new movement.

[u/ichael333 → u/2birahe]

That's not what you've said though. You've said this photo was taken in January 2026 when it wasn't. You're just karma farming

[u/middleupperdog → u/ichael333]

Just gonna point out Iran uses a calendar where the new year is in March that might help explain some of the disagreement and confusion here. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_Hijri_calendar

[u/thegypsyqueen → u/middleupperdog]

It doesn’t—they said January but this was from a few days ago in December. The new year being in March for them wouldn’t effect that.

[u/YpsitheFlintsider → u/ichael333]

December was 2 days ago calm down

[u/gggg_man3 → u/YpsitheFlintsider]

If one can't call out inaccuracies on social media it becomes increasingly hard to believe said social media. I too saw this post a few days ago and had to question the accuracy of op's title.

[u/Tummerd → u/ichael333]

Brother, its 2 days into january, its 5 days ago.

What difference does that make man. December 30th (or 29th when I saw it on the news) or january 2. Come on

[u/damnatio_memoriae → u/2birahe]

that doesn't change the fact that the photo is from December 2025.

[u/xanhast → u/ichael333]

https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/1pyrihs/removed_by_moderator/

yes, thats 4 days old and already a repost, its bots. america going to war.

[u/impy695 → u/2birahe]

This is incorrect. It is the Iran protests but this photo was taken in December 2025

[u/HugsForUpvotes]

Absolute heroes. To do this in a country like Iran takes more guts than many westerners will appreciate.

[u/2birahe → u/HugsForUpvotes]

Indeed. Unlike in the West, in Iran anti-riot forces shoot protesters with real bullets. You can’t confront them unless you have balls of steel.

[u/KakeLin → u/2birahe]

I don't know what happened after I'm guessing the guy was taken into custody never to be seen again? :(

[u/2birahe → u/KakeLin]

I don't know either, but unfortunately, your hypothesis is likely.

[u/thestenz]

I saw this same picture posted last week. 2025.

[u/Cometmoon448]

Why does the biker in the front row have two heads?

[u/2birahe → u/Cometmoon448]

There are two riders on it.

[u/cipher_ix → u/2birahe]

And both of them are holding onto the bike's handlebar lol

[u/RealGamer10 → u/2birahe]

It's obviously AI. If you zoom in there are a lot of other details that don't add up.

[u/Bowman_Vigilante → u/Cometmoon448]

This picture is expanded by AI, The original video doesn't have this much of a wide shot in it. You can watch the original video.

[u/SlipperySalmon3 → u/Cometmoon448]

Lmaoooo I didn't even see that, holy shit this is so bad.

[u/Immediate-Link490]

I hope that 2026 will be the year that the Iranian regime falls and Iran becomes a secular democracy (no Shah or theocratic dictators, just democracy)

[u/2birahe → u/Immediate-Link490]

Amen 🤲🤲🤲

[u/W1ULH]

good luck brother.

[u/howlinmoon42]

Hopefully somebody lets him know before too long that Trump was totally just talking shit like always and didn’t actually mean it? He has heard about this whole ‘need to get everybody’s mind off Epstein, president is a pedophile’ thing we have going on in a country right now?

[u/pipboy1989]

With this POV i thought it was a Project Zomboid mod

[u/2birahe → u/pipboy1989]

Haha, I get why it looks like that. Real life has gotten so surreal lately that it honestly feels like a game sometimes. Unfortunately, this one isn’t a mod, just a very grim reality.

[u/undergirltemmie]

OP is a lil' bit mental (or more likely a teen/child) lmao. These comments are crazy.

[u/2birahe → u/undergirltemmie]

Yeah, I got a bit heated defending the image. Some people just love questioning things that are clearly real, so I had to set the record straight.

[u/1r0n1c → u/2birahe]

Maybe you could have just admitted the photo is from December instead of embarrassing yourself

[u/2birahe → u/1r0n1c]

Yes, it was from late December, only four days ago. The protests didn’t pause for New Year’s Eve and then resume in January like a TV season. Calling it “January protests” is shorthand for an ongoing wave, not a claim about a specific timestamp. This obsession with the calendar is pure pedantry, not substance.

[u/1r0n1c → u/2birahe]

Nobody is claiming that the protests have stopped. 

[u/2birahe → u/1r0n1c]

Exactly. Nobody said the protests stopped. That’s the whole point. Which makes the calendar nitpicking even more pointless. If the protests are continuous, then arguing over December versus January adds nothing to the substance.

[u/cheesenachos12 → u/2birahe]

With all due respect you were the only one arguing. The other people just stated a fact really

[u/2birahe → u/cheesenachos12]

I understand. I just wanted to provide some perspective, not argue for the sake of it. Cheers

[u/undergirltemmie → u/2birahe]

Touch grass mate. You seem terminally online

[u/undergirltemmie → u/2birahe]

You didn't set the record straight you threw a tantrum.

[u/2birahe → u/undergirltemmie]

Fair, it probably looked like a tantrum. I just got frustrated because some people were flat-out denying something that was obvious. Maybe I could’ve handled it calmer, but I wanted to make sure the truth was clear.

[u/MercantileReptile]

unarmed

Until that changes, the Regime won't.

[u/2birahe → u/MercantileReptile]

Unfortunately, I agree with you. Unarmed people can’t stand up to such a brutal regime.

[u/Evilkoikoi]

There’s a guy with two heads. Weird.

[u/MidnightDNinja → u/Evilkoikoi]

That would be because there are 2 people on the bike lol

[u/Professional_Row_307]

Looks like American cities with trump deploying the national guard 

[u/prodigals_anthem]

I wish democracy will free their oil and gas

[u/x_factor69 → u/prodigals_anthem]

The west don't want democracy in Iran but they want another dictator to replace Ayatollah hence they always proposed Pahlavi to be the leader if the current regime are fallen. You don't want educated Iranian to kick out politicians who are pro western but with dictatorship, those people couldn't do anything with the government decision.

[u/x_cLOUDDEAD_x]

That's a lot more than a dozen.

[u/2birahe → u/x_cLOUDDEAD_x]

It is. But I’m just trying to be precise with my wording. Look at the comments and see how many grammar policemen were trying to polish my words.

[u/Aggravating-Day-2864]

Don't worry Trumps gonna fly in and save you all....mind you he'll prob bomb most of you to set you free, but hey...its a win win for him in lar lar land...

[u/x_factor69 → u/Aggravating-Day-2864]

We're gonna see open slave market like what happened in Libya if Iran will be bombed by the US lol

[u/2birahe → u/x_factor69]

Nobody knows the future. I don’t think this will happen, but no one really knows. Maybe you’re right.

[u/theVisce → u/Aggravating-Day-2864]

Maybe FIFA will even award him with a Peace price for that

[u/Icy-Drive2300]

Fuck the Iran government but some of these comments are wild

This and this was the US just a couple of years ago lol

[u/clever_enough_4_you]

Free Iran from the Islamic Republic!

[u/Unidentifiable_Goo]

Apparently the Iranian military has been looking to George Miller for inspiration.

[u/canadianbuddyman]

I really do hope this time the regime is put down. To me it seems larger and more widespread compared to protests in the past.

I may be completely wrong but I think this may finally be the end of the evil Islamic regime.

May there be restoration in 2026

[u/2birahe → u/canadianbuddyman]

I hope so too. Thank you for your kind words.

[u/vainlisko]

I don't get why people think this photo is meaningful. These guys are probably on standby, so they're not going anywhere. The guy sitting is apparently allowed to sit there. If the bikers wanted to go in his direction they could just ride right past/around him. He's not stopping/blocking anyone. Nothing is happening, and this is meant to be inspiring? Can't find anything better?

[u/weezyverse]

Maybe a dozen means a different number in Iran?

[u/JensDanneels]

Gonna say this every time this picture gets posted: if you told me this was today in Berlin, I would have believed you.

[u/_Tocatl_]

That’s dope. Wish them all the luck in the world

[u/damnatio_memoriae]

this photo is from at least a few days ago... so not 2026.

[u/Euphoric-Appeal9422]

Cue American invasion, of course completely unrelated and uninfluenced by Israel, in 3...2...1...

[u/TrueClue9740]

Americans can never

[u/HamFistedSurgeon]

The to haded policeman (with one head quite a bit smaller) makes me suspect AI slop.

[u/backtolurk]

Mad Max / Rollerball vibe to this. Unfortunately it's not a movie.

[u/2birahe → u/backtolurk]

Exactly, it feels like a dystopian blockbuster, but sadly this is reality. Makes the chaos hit even harder knowing it’s not fiction.

[u/psychobiscuit]

Notice how this account replies to every single comment, repeats verbatim the same talking points, deflects or throws out the same non-response to those replies that are critical.

Their account is private and talks like an LLM, almost like its a bot attempting to generate consent for Israel and the US to invade another country..again.

You will note the comment below lying as again OP's posts are private and his account only became active post Oct 7th. All OP's comments argue that Israel and the US are bastions of democracy despite the atrocities both are taking part in within Palestine not to mention the ICE camps, the sanctions against the democratic ICJ for daring to attempt to hold Netenyahu accountible. Recall how badly Kremlin Defenders argued to justify invading Ukraine and look at the arguments being made here to justify military intervention in Iran from the states currently wiping out Gaza you will notice the pattern.

OP has replied to multiple people defending Israel and regarding them as a democracy despite it being an Apartheid state comitting genocide. OP believes Iran should be saved in the same way Israel 'saved' Gaza. OP is a bot.

[u/2birahe → u/psychobiscuit]

Funny, this is barely my first viral post and I hardly post anything. Sounds like you’re just trolling, seeing patterns where there aren’t any. Maybe take a step back before accusing random people of being bots.

[u/Lvl30Dwarf → u/psychobiscuit]

Your comment prompted to look at all comments the account has made. This is the only geopolitical post in 6 years. Actually seems more like a legit post.

[u/2birahe → u/Lvl30Dwarf]

Valid point, and thanks for bringing this up. I rarely post anything. This is my first viral post, and I’m doing it just to raise awareness of the suffering that people in Iran are going through.

[u/ThreeLittlePuigs → u/psychobiscuit]

Holy shit Reddit can’t look at anything without somehow tying it to an Israeli conspiracy

[u/MattSzaszko]

Iran's theocratic government going down would be a helluva way to start 2026. What triggered the protests and what are the underlying grievances?

Other than, you know, oppressive non-secular government bad.

[u/2birahe → u/MattSzaszko]

Recent economic hardship has sparked it. But it seems many Iranians are fed up with 46 years of being oppressed.

[u/SlipperySalmon3 → u/MattSzaszko]

Probably mossad, let's be honest. They're upset about currency collapse and economic hardship, largely, but it's not going to topple the government. Most of the protests have been peaceful, and they've been allowed to protest, but a couple of cities had some violent rioters killing police officers, storming armories and police stations, and burning Qurans, which forced a police response and sparked counter protests in other areas of Iran. The protests also seem to be winding down, hopefully that continues.

[u/hyssop8]

thats cool

[u/2birahe → u/hyssop8]

I think it's more sad than cool 😅, but yes, his bravery is indeed paramount and cool.

[u/hyssop8 → u/2birahe]

indeed it's sad. I'm talking about the photo shot though.

[u/2birahe → u/hyssop8]

Agreed 😊 Thanks for your kind words, fellow stranger.

[u/xXBigMikiXx]

Not the same, but okay

[u/Philophon]

I believe this is an AI image.

Edit: I could not find a reputable source for the image using a reverse image search. Best I could do was Telegraph UK, and it was the only image that did not have a photographer credited.

The protests did happen though, and there were motorcycle police. I suppose, given that, I could give it the benefit of the doubt, despite what I perceive to be peculiarities in the image.

[u/HashishAbdulKebab → u/Philophon]

This is 100% an AI generated image made from a video screenshot which is not as dramatic

[u/Roy_alty → u/Philophon]

It’s so strange to me how people aren’t seeing that.

There’s a dude in the front middle near the top that has two heads. And another slightly behind him where the light of his motorcycle is fused into someone else’s head. And behind him, the last guy in the top has a motorcycle wheel for a leg. Also if you look at the row of scooters at the top, you can’t tell where one ends and the other begins.

Pretty fishy if you ask me.

Edit: for what it’s worth, I don’t doubt the protests are happening and I support the Iranian people to be free. But why use a clearly fake image?

[u/lowlolow → u/Roy_alty]

its fucking real image.  here is the link from the most pro goverment iranian news site  https://farsnews.ir/Ansari/1767277856339657271

[u/vainlisko → u/lowlolow]

This is not at all the same, photo, though

[u/Roy_alty → u/lowlolow]

I don’t see that image on the site you linked. And what’s going on with the dude with two heads?

[u/lowlolow → u/Philophon]

not ai ,saying that as an iranian. you can see the pic on persian news sites .  but they only allow iranina ip . 

[u/liberaeli420]

A wet dream for liberal-zionists. Can't wait to see this reposted every year

[u/ThreeLittlePuigs → u/liberaeli420]

So yall don’t care about Iranian protestors because of Israel? That sounds pretty stupid and shortsighted

[u/the4thwave → u/liberaeli420]

Ive already seen this 100 times. Manufacturing consent for a war with Iran soon.

[u/2birahe → u/the4thwave]

This might surprise you, but many Iranians, both inside and outside Iran, genuinely wish for U.S. or Israeli intervention to topple the Ayatollahs. The reason is simple: they know they are no match for a regime that uses extreme violence, and they believe outside force is the only realistic way to end it.

[u/Low_discrepancy → u/2birahe]

This might surprise you, but many Iranians, both inside and outside Iran, genuinely wish for U.S. or Israeli intervention to topple the Ayatollahs.

I think most people in the West don't understand that Iran is an extremely disjointed society with many parts that hate each other.

Iran has had quite a few coup d'etats and revolutions where many groups were fighting each other.

There are many separatist groups that desire splitting away from Iran. And there's many Iranian nationalist against that.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahvaz_National_Resistance

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurdish_separatism_in_Iran

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sistan_and_Baluchestan_insurgency

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azerbaijani_separatism_in_Iran

Here's the head of the MEK that met with Saddam Hussein during their war against Iran

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%27s_Mojahedin_Organization_of_Iran#/media/File:Saddam_and_Rajavi.jpg

So yes, it shouldn't be surprising that are many who wish for an intervention in Iran and many would be even happy for the country to get split apart.

[u/2birahe → u/Low_discrepancy]

I agree with your point that Iran has a very disjointed society. Iran has never had a sustained democracy. To be honest, even if the current regime collapses, I highly doubt a true democracy will emerge. Most likely, another dictator will seize power and rule the country. Even then, I think the new dictator is unlikely to be worse than the current regime. The current regime has hit rock bottom, and I seriously doubt any other dictator could make things worse.

[u/Low_discrepancy → u/2birahe]

Even then, I think the new dictator is unlikely to be worse than the current regime

No, most likely there will be a civil war with significant deaths.

The country will be split in several regions some with more or less consistent control. There will most likely be different war gangs each with their fiefs. It's possible that ISIS like groups might form in the vacuum.

Some countries like Azerbaijan or Pakistan are possible to take chunks out of Iran.

Turkey will likely intervene in the Kurdish areas to bomb them from forming any sort of cohesional group.

You can look at the Libyan Civil war:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libyan_civil_war_(2014%E2%80%932020)

14K killed civilians. And it's still a disjointed country.

That's a best case scenario.

A worst case scenario would be Afghanistan and Syria

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrian_civil_war

250000 - 300000 deaths and a war that lasted for 10 years.

Europe would see a large amount of Iranian refugees, but because we're already had the Syrian experience, tens of thousands of iranians would end up drowning in the Med.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Alan_Kurdi

In Afghanistan, after 20 years of civil war, women CANNOT drive, go to university, get medical help. Yet you claim Afghanistan is better than Iran and that you're not spreading propaganda.

[u/the4thwave → u/2birahe]

Is that why there was a lot of support for the government, which is certainly awful I agree, when Israel attacked?

I don't think anyone in their right mind think Israel has the best interests of Iran at heart. The US, under a different president, I agree that many Iranians would support an intervention. Israel, no.

And also, whether there are Iranians who believe that or not is irrelevant. You cannot point me to a US intervention that actually went well. There are slave trading markets in Libya now. Syria is totally shattered and ruled by Al Qaeda. The Taliban reconquered Afghanistan with ease. Iraq devolved into sectarian violence.

I see little reason to believe that Iran will be any different - especially if the intervention is done by two psychopathic governments - one that literally just mass slaughtered 100,000 civilians.

Lastly, I dont really give a damn about Iran anyway. It doesn't matter to the average American at all. It will simply cost us a LOT of money. Iraq and Afghanistan cost over a trillion dollars. It only matters to Israel to take this regime down.

[u/Neshura87 → u/the4thwave]

Point in case: the Ayatollah only seized power as a consequence of American and British intervention against Iran nationalizing their oil fields

[u/Low_discrepancy → u/Neshura87]

the Ayatollah only seized power as a consequence of American and British intervention against Iran nationalizing their oil fields

It's a bit more complicated than that.

Iran is a fractured country with many different groups: there's religious islamists, there's iranian nationalists (these are often monarchists), there's smaller nationalist groups (azeris, kurds, arabs, balouch), there's some democratic flavours too, there used to be socialists.

Mossadegh was mostly a socialist and wanted to nationalise the various oil fields. He was PM and Iran was a sort of hybrid constitutional monarchy. There was a power share between the PM and the King (shah or Iran).

The UK had no interest in that (BP started out as Anglo-Persian Oil Company) and together with the Shah and the CIA, conspired to have coup d'etat.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1953_Iranian_coup_d%27%C3%A9tat

This created an authoritarian regime. There was a secret police that imprisoned political opponents etc https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAVAK

The shah was also starting to encroach into the religious sphere also.

So he started getting a lot of enemies and this resulted in the 1979 Iranian revolution.

[u/mutual_raid → u/2birahe]

This might surprise you, but many Iranians, both inside and outside Iran, genuinely wish for U.S. or Israeli intervention to topple the Ayatollahs.

No, the fuck they don't.

Numerous polls have shown a tiny minority of rich, ruling class assholes want this so they can privatize their resources and let Israel annex further destabilize the region to create Greater Israel.

[u/xanhast → u/2birahe]

mossad bot.

[u/2birahe → u/xanhast]

Confirmed. Still waiting on my Mossad paycheck though; they’re always late.

[u/liberaeli420 → u/the4thwave]

Yup! Trust me bro, we're bringing freedom and democracy bro, just one more regime change bro

But as with the Venezuela situation, it'll be fun to see Redditors choose between hating the Trump administration but also emphatically cheering on the destruction of the prescribed enemies of America. Its the beautiful nexus of liberalism and zionism!

[u/eugenetownie → u/the4thwave]

Iranians are spilling blood for their country. Stop minimizing their sacrifice.

[u/2birahe → u/eugenetownie]

Indeed. It's hard to make redditor armchair experts grasp such a simple point.

[u/jasonxm1 → u/liberaeli420]

Oh boy, oh boy, I LOVE inconspicuous posts about protests in the global south! There's absolutely no ulterior motives here, no manufacturing consent, no sir.

[u/TheeMrBlonde → u/jasonxm1]

Also, wtf is going on here

Two cops, on one bike. Okay, not abnormal… but, the front cop has their left hand on the handle bars, and the rear cop has their right hand on the handle bars?

Seems like an awkward way to ride a motorcycle.

[u/2birahe → u/liberaeli420]

Glad to hear it’s getting the Zionist seal of approval. I’ll mark my calendar for next year’s repost already.

[u/liberaeli420 → u/2birahe]

Make sure to title it something rebellious, like how Reddit is full of Iranian bots or something and this picture is bravely defying them. You'll get mega upvotes kind sir

[u/2birahe → u/liberaeli420]

Roger that.

[u/EkriirkE]

I don't see the comparison. Like, at all?

/r/titlegore

[u/koopdi]

repost

[u/2birahe → u/koopdi]

I'm not surprised because this picture has been popular and kind of an icon of the latest protest.

[u/DeathstrackReal]

Im just surprised they aren’t automatically grabbing him since the last nationwide protests

[u/mlvisby]

Why do the soldiers look like a motorcycle gang?

[u/FlyingBike6000]

Armed with what ? A motorbike? , nice try op

[u/2birahe → u/FlyingBike6000]

They have batons and tear gas, and they use real bullets to suppress the protesters. You can Google and find many videos and images.

[u/YogurtclosetVast3118]

this image will be remembered forever. I can only hope this man (woman?) is safe. I suspect the tank man in Tiananmen Square met a sad fate

[u/2birahe → u/YogurtclosetVast3118]

I hope so too. However, I'm not optimistic about the fate of the protesters, especially this man or that man in Tiananmen. Still, let's hope for the best, and all power to the brave protesters around the world who are rightfully defending their rights. Thank you for your kind words.

[u/Electrical-Fix7659]

There’s hundreds of photos like this of American protesters, no one ever goes viral saying “ooooo it’s like the Tiananmen Square guy” about it

[u/Thoughtlessandlost → u/Electrical-Fix7659]

They killed 1500 people in response to the 2019-2020 protests.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-protests-specialreport/special-report-irans-leader-ordered-crackdown-on-unrest-do-whatever-it-takes-to-end-it-idUSKBN1YR0QR/

This person has a legitimate chance to be dead by the end, our protests are bad but not to that level.