Will Iran Be Beheaded? Chinese Netizens Appeal to Trump for Help

An Iranian woman rushes to the tower, setting fire to a portrait of Khamenei! (Internet image)

[People News] The righteous flames of protest among the Iranian people continue to burn. What began as nationwide resistance triggered by economic collapse has evolved into a comprehensive challenge to the despotic regime of Khamenei, while also exposing the brutality and fragility of authoritarian systems around the world.

Unwilling to face extinction, the Khamenei regime is now frantically struggling in its death throes. Iranian security forces have opened fire on protesters; current rumors say the number of casualties has reached 6,000. According to BBC reports, more than 20,000 people have been arrested. On the 13th, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that “the situation is fully under control.” On the 8th, Iran cut off internet access and, with jamming equipment provided by the Chinese Communist Party, blocked the transmission of Starlink signals. Police even went door to door searching for Starlink receivers to cut off the flow of information. Iranian authorities have even launched terrorist-style policies, announcing that on the 14th they will publicly execute a batch of protesters.

However, the regime’s repression has failed to extinguish the spark of protest. According to analysis by the U.S. nonprofit think tank Institute for the Study of War, the internet shutdown has reduced the recording of protests, but actual activity continues to spread across 22 provinces, including the burning of government buildings and the blocking of roads. Meanwhile, Starlink videos have emerged showing that the Iranian people have initiated a Bangladesh-style revenge model: the residences of senior officials and security forces have been marked, with blood-red warnings written on them stating, “You repress us on the streets; we will come for your families!”

On the night of the 12th, Iranian streets were packed with protesters—shouting slogans, marching and demonstrating, without fear. One protester stated firmly: “Even if they are slaughtering us, we will not leave. We want to take back our country.” Many people, while demanding the return of relatives’ bodies inside government buildings, continued to shout: “Down with Khamenei!”

President Trump warned Iran several days ago not to suppress the people, or it would face a severe U.S. strike. In the face of America’s tough warning, the Iranian dictator played a double game: terror at home, submission toward the U.S., stepping on red lines while begging for mercy. White House spokesperson Leavitt revealed that Iran privately “softened” toward the United States and sought negotiations, while maintaining a tough public posture. On January 12, Trump said aboard Air Force One that Iran had crossed U.S. red lines and must take action first before negotiations could occur. The Pentagon’s “pizza index” (the number of pizzas ordered by the military as an indicator of operations) has remained high, and more U.S. transport aircraft and fighter jets have arrived at Middle Eastern bases.

On January 13, Trump announced a 25% tariff on countries trading with Iran, equivalent to secondary sanctions. The first to be hit is the CCP, as trade with China accounts for 26% of Iran’s total foreign trade. The United States also urged its citizens to evacuate Iran. These signals indicate that the likelihood of military action has risen from “possible” to “highly likely.”

The crisis of the Iranian regime strongly tugs at the sensitive nerves of Beijing’s Zhongnanhai. Yet, deterred by the demonstration effect of the United States’ beheading of Maduro and by the brave resistance of the Iranian people, the CCP—though anxious and desperate—has no cards to play. The Chinese Foreign Ministry offered a pale response, saying it “hopes the Iranian government and people can overcome current difficulties and maintain national stability.” Zhongnanhai is trapped under multiple pressures of anxiety, helplessness, and fear.

There is no doubt that what Iran and the CCP most want to avoid is the replication of the Maduro model in Iran. The possibility of the United States beheading Khamenei does exist.

First, beheading Khamenei would be the fastest and most thorough way to resolve Iran’s regime structure.

As Iran’s supreme spiritual and political leader, Khamenei’s removal would cause the current regime to collapse instantly, accelerating domestic protests into regime change—similar to the fall of Maduro in Venezuela and a change of government by the people. Such a move would also pave the way for lasting peace in the Middle East.

Second, a beheading operation aligns with U.S. geopolitical interests.

Some Republican members of Congress, such as Lindsey Graham, have publicly suggested assassinating Iran’s top leaders, including Khamenei, in response to the suppression of protests. Such an action would successfully shape Trump’s image as a global leader, demonstrate the United States’ determination to safeguard its interests, consolidate U.S. dominance in the Middle East, and encourage allies such as Saudi Arabia and Israel to strengthen cooperation—thoroughly changing and stabilizing the turbulent Middle Eastern landscape.

Third, economic and energy interests.

If the Khamenei regime falls, Iran’s new government and people will inevitably lean toward pro-American policies, and its abundant oil resources will tilt toward the United States. The global map of petrodollar dominance would expand further, becoming more solid, undoubtedly enhancing U.S. economic resilience.

Fourth, the United States would gain global strategic advantages.

With Khamenei removed, the nuclear crisis in the Middle East would effectively end, while strongly deterring authoritarian systems such as the CCP, Russia, and North Korea. It would play a key deterrent role for global democratic movements and anti-authoritarian struggles. At the same time, Trump would reap enormous benefits in this year’s midterm elections.

Fifth, a beheading operation against Iran’s leader has practical feasibility.

There is already successful experience from Trump’s first term with the beheading of Soleimani. U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones, Delta Force special operations units, sonic weapons, and carrier strike groups constitute an absolute, high-crush, high-explosive military combination. Coupled with Israeli Mossad intelligence support, penetration of Iran’s air defense systems, and fractures within Iran’s regime, this possibility fully exists, with a high probability of success.

Sixth, a beheading operation would exert enormous deterrence on the CCP.

Iran is the CCP’s axis partner and close junior ally in the Middle East. A beheading operation would directly weaken the CCP’s indirect ability to confront the United States through proxies, forcing the CCP to adopt strategic retrenchment in the Middle East and disrupting its military assistance strategies. The United States’ precision strike capability without triggering a full-scale war would push the CCP to favor diplomatic maneuvering rather than military responses during geopolitical crises. Especially regarding the Taiwan Strait issue, the CCP may consider delaying an invasion of Taiwan or abandoning such plans altogether.

U.S. control over the Western Hemisphere and the Middle East would strengthen its discourse power in the Indo-Pacific, enhance the cohesion of the U.S.–Japan alliance, and even help split the China–Russia alliance, further isolating the CCP globally.

In terms of the economy and global supply chains, the CCP’s Belt and Road projects in Iran would suffer heavy blows. Iran’s oil is tied to the CCP’s energy security; U.S. control and influence over Iranian oil would create an energy crisis for the CCP, no less severe than economic sanctions. In the U.S.–China trade conflict, the United States would once again gain the upper hand, dealing a direct blow to the CCP’s economy.

The wave of protests among the Iranian people has also inspired anti-CCP sentiment among people inside China. Trump’s beheading operation against Maduro has greatly awakened Chinese netizens’ expectations of the United States. If Trump were to replicate this approach and take down Khamenei, it would be a powerful encouragement to people inside the Great Firewall.

Recently, in a Trump-related video on the Douyin platform, Chinese netizens’ on-screen comments directly appealed to Trump for help, with the screen repeatedly filled with phrases such as: “Ball leader hello,” “Chairman hello,” “Chief hello,” “Savior,” “Save me,” “SOS save me,” “Save us,” “Save the Chinese people,” “Help, help,” and other cries for rescue. The Chinese people have already come to regard Trump and the U.S. military as their saviors, reflecting the Chinese populace’s deep dissatisfaction with the CCP and the Xi Jinping authorities.

This indicates that people inside the Great Firewall are experiencing an explosive awakening, with their level of understanding of the CCP already reaching the point of revolutionary overthrow of the Communist Party. It seems that 2026 will be yet another disastrous year for the CCP.

(People News exclusive first publication) △