An Iranian man has reportedly died by suicide after sharing a video on social media in which he urged US President Donald Trump not to enter into negotiations with Iran’s clerical leadership. The 10-minute, 44-second video was posted by Pouria Hamidi, identified by Iranian media as a resident of the southern port city of Bushehr. He said his message was meant to highlight what he described as a violent crackdown on protests in Iran and to call for foreign action against the ruling regime.

In the video, which later spread widely online, Hamidi opened by saying that if viewers were watching it, he would no longer be alive. He claimed that more than 40,000 people had been killed during unrest in Iran, comparing the toll to major global conflicts. The video, uploaded to his YouTube channel “PoorY X” on February 5, was titled “This Is My Sacrifice – Please, Free My Country.”

Speaking in English, Hamidi directly addressed US leaders, warning that any agreement with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s government would amount to a betrayal of those who had lost their lives. He appealed to President Trump to halt any potential deal, saying Iranians had continued protesting after being encouraged to do so but were unable to confront armed forces without outside help. Hamidi argued that Iranians could not defeat the Islamic regime on their own and claimed that foreign intervention was their only remaining hope. He voiced support for exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi, calling him the best option to lead a transitional government, and urged opposition groups abroad to unite rather than remain divided.

Describing his personal despair, Hamidi spoke of exhaustion, sleeplessness, and a sense of having no future. He said his goal in recording the video was to give meaning to his life and to encourage Iranians to stand by one another. In the final moments, he switched to Persian, urging mutual support and expressing hope for Iran. Hamidi is reported to have taken his own life after releasing the video.

His death occurred amid intensified government repression following recent protests, even as Tehran signaled openness to renewed nuclear talks with Washington. Authorities carried out further arrests, including reformist figures, shortly after Iran and US officials held talks in Oman that both sides described positively. In recent days, Iran has imposed additional prison sentences on Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi and detained Hossein Karoubi, son of veteran opposition leader Mehdi Karoubi. Following weeks of unrest that posed one of the most serious challenges to the regime since the 1979 revolution, Iran has adopted a dual strategy: cracking down on dissent while simultaneously exploring a possible diplomatic path with the Trump administration.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from NDTV.