As the U.S. and Israel back Iranians' right to protest against their leaders, authorities in Tehran detain students and declare a sudden holiday.

The deaths may mark the start of a heavier-handed response by Iran's theocracy over the demonstrations, which have slowed in Tehran but expanded elsewhere.

Protests across Iran have turned deadly, sparking fear and heartbreak among Iranian Americans with family still in the country. What may appear as breaking news to many is a constant, daily anxiety for those watching events unfold from afar.

Every anti-regime protest demonstrates that Iranians are willing to risk everything for freedom. The question is whether their courage will be met with tangible American support, or merely sympathetic statements.

Anti-regime protests entered a fifth day as demonstrations spread across Tehran and other cities, with reports of deaths emerging amid escalating nationwide unrest.

Iran’s exiled opposition leader, Reza Pahlavi, his issued a New Year's message to his compatriots that “the current regime has reached the end of the road" in comments that come as protests in the country have escalated and turned fatal.

If Iran violently kills peaceful protesters, the United States of America will come to their rescue, Trump said in a 3 a.m. post Friday on his TruthSocial platform. "We are locked and loaded and ready to go.

President Trump warned the U.S. would intervene if Iran begins killing protesters, as demonstrations fueled by economic collapse spread beyond Tehran and raise fears of a violent crackdown.

That fact that they know that that’s the risk and they still get out there shows you how bad it is for them on a day-to-day basis,” an Iranian-American said.