The driver of a U-Haul involved in a confrontation at an anti-Iran-regime protest in Los Angeles has spoken publicly, insisting he never meant to harm anyone and describing a chaotic scene where he felt threatened, attacked, and ultimately detained by police.
Calor Madanescht, 48, says he went to the protest to express support for human rights and minorities in Iran and that he was not trying to hurt anyone when his truck entered a crowded street. He told reporters he wanted peace and that media videos have left out context that, in his view, shows he was under attack. Madanescht says some people in the crowd helped create a path for him to leave, and he maintains he acted in self-defense after being confronted.
When pressed about the footage circulating online, Madanescht rejected the claim that he deliberately struck protesters. “I had no intention to hit anybody,” he said, twice insisting his focus was on getting away from a dangerous situation. He described being afraid for his life as the crowd surged around the truck and claimed he sustained injuries during the melee, including stitches on his hand.
A banner displayed on the side of the truck read, in all capital letters, “NO SHAH. NO REGIME. USA: DON’T REPEAT 1953. NO MULLAH,” along with another banner written in a foreign language.
The messages on Madanescht’s truck referenced past U.S. involvement in Iran and a rejection of both the old monarchy and the current regime, and he says those signs drew angry responses from some demonstrators. He told reporters that pro-Shah participants at the protest reacted negatively to the slogans, and that tensions quickly escalated into physical confrontation. Madanescht recounted being stabbed or cut during the clash and said he defended himself against the person who attacked him.
Witness accounts differed on some details, which is common in fast-moving crowd incidents. One man at the scene, identified as Mehdi, described a far more aggressive response from the crowd toward the driver. “They kept punching him, hitting him,” Mehdi said, adding, “They broke the window, kicked the truck, assaulted him, and he has a right to free speech.”
Another man interviewed at the protest questioned Madanescht’s claim that officers signaled him onto the street, suggesting the driver’s account may not match what others saw. Madanescht, however, praised Los Angeles police for their actions during the incident and said he cooperated with them. “The reality is I peacefully came, cooperated with LAPD, and I’m deeply grateful for them,” he said, adding that officers “deserve the highest praise for putting their lives on the line to save mine.”
The LAPD confirmed the U-Haul driver was detained after the incident and reported that one man received treatment after being struck by the vehicle. Video circulating on social platforms showed the truck enter an area crowded with demonstrators before being surrounded, and footage appears to capture the chaotic moments that followed. After officers intervened, Madanescht was taken into custody and later booked on a misdemeanor charge of reckless driving.
The Los Angeles Police Department said the U-Haul driver was detained and that one man was treated for injuries after being struck by the vehicle.
Madanescht repeated that his motive was to support human rights in Iran and to stand with minorities facing repression, and he described the whole episode as a misinterpreted attempt at protest participation. He emphasized that the confrontation was not premeditated and that the images and clips circulating online do not tell the whole story. At the same time, the visible damage to the truck and the wounds he displayed to reporters underline how quickly confrontations at political rallies can become physical.
Authorities continue to review video, witness statements, and physical evidence to determine what happened and whether additional charges are warranted. For now, the case centers on conflicting accounts from the driver and protesters, assessment of intent, and whether the vehicle was used recklessly amid a volatile crowd. The incident highlights the risks when political demonstrations collide with vehicles and the challenge police face in separating combatants from bystanders.
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