Sam Asghari shares video from LA rally that spiraled into chaos after U-Haul truck PLOWED into crowd

Sam Asghari revealed he was among the protestors at a tense pro-freedom rally in Los Angeles that descended into chaos after a U-Haul truck drove into demonstrators.

On Sunday night, the Iranian-born model and actor, who was previously married to Britney Spears, shared footage of himself marching alongside large crowds while waving the Iranian flag. 

Asghari, 31, joined protesters gathered near the federal building in Westwood, which is home to one of the largest Iranian-American communities in the United States.

Demonstrators were calling for regime change and pushing back against political repression in Iran.

The peaceful protest took a tumultuous turn after a U-Haul truck drove toward hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the federal building.

Video captured the moment the truck moved into the crowd on Veteran Avenue around 3:30 p.m., as people screamed and rushed away. 

Officers were later seen pulling the driver from the vehicle while demonstrators surrounded him, attempting to strike him with objects including flagpoles, trash and their hands. One protester climbed onto the truck and kicked in its windshield.

After the driver was removed, protesters chased him and tried to hit him as police escorted him away and took him into custody. 

Demonstrators also tore political messages from the truck as tensions escalated.

Witnesses said the truck barreled toward protesters waving Iranian flags, attempting to force its way through the gathering. 

A large banner taped to the side of the vehicle read: 'No Shah, No Regime. USA: Don't Repeat 1953. No Mullah.'

Panic erupted as the truck came to a stop, with demonstrators surrounding the vehicle, smashing windows and shouting as anger boiled over.

Law enforcement officers eventually pulled a man from the truck and appeared to place him under arrest.

As police escorted the driver away, several protesters were seen trying to punch him and strike him with flagpoles, forcing officers to push the crowd back.

The Los Angeles Fire Department reported that three people were injured by the truck. Two declined medical treatment, while a third was assessed by paramedics at the scene.

Police remained in the area as they worked to control the crowd before eventually issuing a dispersal order, which led to the gathering quickly shrinking.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass urged demonstrators with opposing views to exercise their rights peacefully, saying, 'Even though we're in this highly charged environment, it's always important for Angelenos to remember that our protests have to be peaceful, regardless of how charged the issue is.'

The unrest in Los Angeles mirrors the deadly situation unfolding in Iran. 

At least 583 people have been killed since demonstrations began two weeks ago, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency.

From an estimated 400,000 Iranian-born immigrants living in the United States, more than a third reside in the Los Angeles area.

Protests inside Iran have intensified since the New Year, with the regime led by Ayatollah Khamenei reportedly cutting off internet access and telephone lines in an effort to limit communication with the outside world.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump is expected to be briefed by top aides this week as he weighs the U.S. response to Iran's crackdown.

According to the Wall Street Journal, senior officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and Joint Chiefs Chair Dan Caine are expected to attend the meeting.

While further U.S. involvement in the region is being considered, placing American troops on the ground is not currently on the table, according to CNN.

Following the incident, Asghari continued to use his social media platforms to address the rally and the backlash that followed.

After one Instagram user called him a 'disgrace' and suggested he 'get out of America' if he loves his country so much, the actor responded directly on his Instagram. 

'As a proud American citizen, I'm most proud of the values this country represents - that people who couldn't thrive under oppressive governments can come here, build meaningful lives, and contribute in powerful ways,' he explained.

Asghari continued: 'Iranian Americans are among the most successful immigrant communities in a nation that values freedom. Peacefully protesting the biggest enemy of the United States, while holding the American flag and standing for freedom, is one of the most American things you can do.'

In additional Instagram Stories, Asghari also reshared a statement from Eric Swalwell voicing support for Iranian protesters.

The statement read in part: 'Iranians aren't asking for the world. They just want a vote that gets counted. To walk down the street without glancing over their shoulders… The chanting, the shouting we see now - it is the sound of history trying to turn the page.'

The message praised Iranian Americans across California - including those in Westwood - calling them 'one of the great heartbeats of this state,' and emphasized that a free Iran 'cannot be an American export' but must be built by its people.