'It is heartbreaking': Iranian man living in the Triangle shares thoughts on deadly protests after woman's headscarf death

President Joe Biden on Monday said his administration was “gravely concerned about reports of the intensifying violent crackdown on peaceful protesters in Iran, including students and women.”

Anti-government protests began on Sept. 17 across Iran, a day after the killing of Mahsa Amini. Amini died at the age of 22 while in police custody. According to The Associated Press, Amini died in police custody after her arrest for wearing her headscarf improperly.

Women in Iran have been required to wear a headscarf and loose clothing while in public since 1979.

Brandon Kashani, who left Iran at age 15, became an American citizen and attended NC State University has watched the protests from afar, worrying about family still in the country.

“I have been in touch with my mom twice in 14 days for 30 seconds at a time,” Kashani said.

Kashani said he feels helpless.

“It is heartbreaking,” he said. “I’ve never been involved in anything like this.”

Kashani shared horrific videos sent by friends and family with WRAL News.

“It sucks living here, living with a lot of guilt. There is nothing I can do beyond talking about it,” Kashani said.

Dozens of protesters have been killed in the country as they call for justice and an end to the "morality police."

Civil rights groups have told the Associated Press that Iran’s security forces have sought to disperse demonstrations with tear gas, metal pellets and bullets. Iran’s state TV reports that violent confrontations between protesters and the police have killed at least 41 people, but human rights groups say the number is much higher.

A video Kashani showed WRAL News shows students at Sharif University of Technology trapped in a parking lot that had been surrounded by security personnel.

“My classmates [and] my friends, they are in the streets right now,” Kashani said. “They are getting shot at. They are getting killed. They are people like me.”

Kashani said he has been speaking to NC State students each week to educate them on what’s going on and what they can do to make a difference. He hopes people will start talking about it, educating others and sharing it on social media to spark change.

On Monday morning at the NC State Student Union, students gathered to stand in solidarity with the protests in Iran. Some students even cut their hair to show support for Iranian women.