Thousands of Iranian-Americans gathered in Westwood on Sunday to support the protesters pushing for regime change in Iran.

The government in Iran has killed thousands of protesters thus far, with protesters in Southern California describing torture and massacres. Protesters are calling for removal of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country’s head of state.

“That’s all we want to happen in Iran,” protester Hamid Mohedfar told KTLA’s Gene Kang. “We want this regime to go away. That’s it. They killed a lot of people!”

Tensions have escalated during the period of unrest, with President Donald Trump sending an aircraft carrier group to the Middle East, which could precipitate strikes against Iran.

Khamenei said such actions would spark a regional war, to which Trump reportedly responded “we’ll find out.”

Protesters said they hope Trump will back their compatriots in Iran.

“Mr. President, we voted for you. We need your help. The Iranian people went to the streets by the thousands, hoping you would back them up!”

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