Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the New York residence of Iran's U.N. ambassador on Fifth Avenue, calling for the overthrow of Tehran's theocratic government and urging U.S. intervention. Demonstrators — many backing Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi — chanted and displayed signs; some graffiti was reported on the townhouse facade. The building, a 19th-century property from the shah's era, is the only Iranian government-owned site in the U.S. The rally coincided with a U.S. military buildup, as Washington moved warships closer to Iran amid concerns about Tehran's regional actions and crackdowns on dissent.
Hundreds Rally On Fifth Avenue Demanding Regime Change In Iran, Urging U.S. Intervention
Hundreds rally outside Iranian UN ambassador's Fifth Avenue residence calling for regime change
Hundreds of protesters gathered on a bright Saturday afternoon along Manhattan's Fifth Avenue outside the New York residence of Iran's U.N. ambassador, calling for the overthrow of Tehran's theocratic leadership and urging U.S. intervention.
Demonstrators assembled across from the stately 19th-century limestone townhouse that has served as the official home of Iran's U.N. representative since it was acquired during the reign of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Because the United States and Iran do not maintain diplomatic relations, protesters said the building is the only Iranian government-owned property in the country and a symbolic focal point for dissent.
The Iranian United Nation's Ambassador's home in New York City was previously vandalized with spray paint.(Fox News)
Chants, Signs and Graffiti
Protesters chanted slogans including "Trump, act now!" and displayed signs demanding an end to the Islamic Republic. One placard showed a photograph of Iranian U.N. Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani with the words "A terrorist lives here." Organizers also reported that someone spray-painted words such as "terrorists" and "killers" on the townhouse facade overnight.
Protesters hold "Make Iran Great Again" signs during a demonstration on Saturday, Jan. 31 in New York City.
"We want freedom for the Iranian people," said protester Sarah Shahi. "We want this theocracy that has been taking people's rights away to be taken out with whatever means necessary. We need help when so many people have been killed."
Many demonstrators voiced support for Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, the son of the late shah who has long lived in exile and has been calling for resistance to Tehran's clerical rulers. Protesters cited reports and estimates that the government's crackdown on anti-regime demonstrations has resulted in large numbers of deaths; some accounts have placed casualties in the thousands.
Broader Context
The rally came amid a stepped-up U.S. military posture in the region: President Donald Trump ordered U.S. warships closer to Iran as options — including potential strikes on nuclear, military and energy-related targets — were being weighed. U.S. officials say the positioning is a response to Tehran's regional activities and the reported violent suppression of protest movements.
Organizers emphasized the demonstration's symbolic purpose: to show solidarity with Iranian protesters on the ground and to pressure Washington for decisive action. While the rally was peaceful, the graffiti and pointed placards underscored the intensity of feeling among exiled Iranians and their supporters in New York.
Help us improve.
