Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of Iran to demonstrate their unity, strength, and capability. Following months of ongoing conflict, they showcased their readiness on Friday. This was the largest government-organized demonstration since the hostilities began. Highlighting their capacity for resistance, they signaled their preparedness to take up arms and fight for the country. The Associated Press (AP) reported this development.
Despite the country’s economy deteriorating due to a US naval blockade of its ports and fresh American sanctions, the government is taking various initiatives to unite the public and convey a message of national solidarity. On Friday, the government also reported an attack on another oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz—a vital waterway over which Iran has sought to establish control since the conflict began.
There have been varying estimates regarding the number of people who have signed up as volunteers to defend the country after receiving limited military training. This initiative has been named “Janfada-ye Iran,” meaning “those who sacrifice their lives for Iran.” On Friday, clad in military uniforms and carrying flags, they marched through central Tehran while onlookers cheered them on. For days, state media had been encouraging Iranians to join this program, announcing that training with weapons—including automatic rifles—would soon commence. These volunteers will serve as an additional security layer alongside the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij militia; the Basij has played a key role in suppressing anti-government protests.
General Hassan Hassanzadeh, the IRGC commander for Tehran, told state broadcasters that over 600,000 people had registered for the program, with expectations that more than a million would eventually participate in the training. State media estimated that over 300,000 people gathered on the streets of Tehran on Friday morning. Hossein Taeb, the new chief of the Basij, stated during the rally that the volunteers would be ready for “total defense.” He announced that similar rallies would soon be held in other cities across the country. Taeb added that the newly trained volunteers would become a “nightmare” for Iran’s enemies. President Masoud Pezeshkian, military commanders, and other high-ranking officials observed the procession.
Some participants at the rally trampled on US and Israeli flags. Others chanted slogans such as “Down with America” and “Down with Israel.” Twenty-four-year-old Marzieh Afaghi attended the rally with her husband and young child. She said, “I have come here to tell (US President Donald) Trump that we Iranians are not afraid of his threats against our homeland.”
Throughout history, no one has managed to invade Iran and sustain a presence there. The rally also provided an opportunity to showcase Iran’s military hardware; air defense systems were put on display. Female guards, wearing black headscarves, were seen stationed beside machine guns mounted on trucks.
