An Iranian man identified by activists and Iranian media as Pouria Hamidi, from the southern port city of Bushehr, died by suicide after releasing a video in English urging U.S. President Donald Trump and Western governments not to pursue a deal with Iran’s ruling establishment, according to Iran International and other outlets that cited it.
An Iranian man identified by activists and Iranian media as Pouria Hamidi, from the southern port city of Bushehr, posted a video message addressed to U.S. President Donald Trump and Western governments before dying by suicide, according to the London-based outlet Iran International.
In the roughly 10-minute video, Hamidi described Iran’s leadership as a criminal and violent force and said he was speaking to draw attention to what he characterized as a deadly crackdown on protests. At the start of the recording, he said: “If you’re watching this, then I’m not around anymore,” according to Iran International’s account of the video.
Hamidi urged Washington not to negotiate with Iran’s current rulers, warning that a deal would amount to a betrayal of those killed in unrest. In the recording, he said: “To make a deal with this regime is to betray all those people who died,” and pleaded: “I beg you, do whatever you can to stop this deal.”
He also called for foreign intervention, saying, “America attacking the Iran is the only hope we have right now,” and added that Iranians could not defeat the authorities on their own, Iran International reported.
Some of Hamidi’s most sweeping assertions in the video could not be independently verified. He claimed “more than 40,000” people had been killed in “just a few short weeks” during recent unrest, but neither Iran International nor other reports citing the video provided evidence supporting that figure.
Iran International said the video also included criticism of Iran’s religious establishment and expressions of support for exiled royal figure Reza Pahlavi, including a call for opposition unity. At the end of the recording, Hamidi switched to Persian, urging Iranians to support one another and concluding with “Long live Iran,” according to the outlet.
The reports circulated amid heightened debate over possible future diplomacy with Tehran, with Iran International and other outlets linking Hamidi’s appeal to concerns that negotiations could resume.
