Hundreds of Thousands Attend Regime Rally in Tehran Amid Regional Tensions
Hundreds of thousands of Iranians attended a regime rally in Tehran, vowing to defend the country amid escalating tensions with the US and Israel, as authorities launched a mass volunteer recruitment drive.
Hundreds of thousands of Iranians participated in a regime-organized rally in Tehran on Friday, marking the largest show of defiance since the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran in February. Participants declared their readiness to take up arms and defend the country following months of war and a sharp deterioration in Iran's economic situation, according to the Associated Press.
The 'Janfadai Iran' Initiative
The rally was held as part of an initiative known as "Janfadai Iran," meaning "Those who sacrifice their lives for Iran." Participants marched through central Tehran in combat gear and carrying flags, while crowds gathered on the streets cheered them on. Some demonstrators trampled on US and Israeli flags, chanting "Death to America" and "Death to Israel."
In the days leading up to the rally, state media called on the public to join the project and announced that limited training in the use of assault rifles would soon begin. The volunteers are intended to serve as an additional layer of defense alongside the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij militia, which has historically played a central role in suppressing anti-regime protests.
Military Displays and Regional Threats
The rally also served as an opportunity for the regime to showcase weaponry. Air defense systems were deployed in the streets, and female IRGC fighters wearing black head coverings were seen alongside machine guns mounted on vehicles. The Revolutionary Guards also displayed drones of the type used to attack vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
Simultaneously with the events in Tehran, Iran claimed responsibility for an attack on the oil tanker Trend, sailing under the flag of Togo. According to state media, the tanker was attacked due to what was defined as an "illegal attempt" to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a vessel was struck by a projectile and that a fire broke out on board, which was later extinguished.
"We Iranians are not afraid of his threats against our homeland. No one throughout history has managed to invade Iran and stay," said Marzieh Afagi, 24, who attended the rally with her husband and toddler.
According to UKMTO, the number of vessels passing with the assistance of the US military off the coast of Oman averaged 24 per day over the past week. However, total traffic volume in the region remains about 90% lower compared to the period before the war. Iranian attacks and threats in the strait have severely impacted oil and natural gas shipments from Gulf states to global markets.
