TEHRAN — Two Iranian protesters who survived a January crackdown spoke anonymously in a phone interview about witnessing government forces kill demonstrators and their plans to resume protests. Iranian regime forces are estimated to have killed more than 36,500 protesters during demonstrations in January.

The protesters spoke through an interpreter on condition of anonymity because they feared for their lives. A tattoo artist who participated said, "It was the most brutal crackdown imaginable."

"They were just shooting people. They didn't really care if someone was part of the protest or not, or just passing by," the tattoo artist said. A 43-year-old woman said that as many as two million people were in the streets that night.

Both protesters said the government's response to public protests had become more severe as U.S. and Israeli military actions targeted its leaders and military installations. An animal rescuer who also survived the January crackdown said, "Every night [regime forces] come into the streets, shouting and roaring, threatening people, cursing at them, saying, 'If you come into the streets, we will kill you.'"

Despite the threats, both protesters expressed determination to return to the streets. "The protest that will happen will be something extraordinary, because the hatred people have for [the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] after the massacre is extremely intense," one protester said.

The animal rescuer said the regime's position had weakened. "They have become weak and are very close to collapse; everyone [in Iran] is just waiting to come into the streets and finish the job," the rescuer said.

The animal rescuer said that most Iranians are waiting for exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi to signal them to rise up. "People are only waiting for Reza Pahlavi's call," she said.

The tattoo artist echoed this sentiment. "We're waiting for the word from the Crown Prince. If he says we should go take over the national TV building or government buildings, we'll go and do it," the tattoo artist said.