Iran rallies hundreds of thousands in largest show of defiance since February war began

Hundreds of thousands of Iranians participated in a government-organized rally in Tehran on Friday, marking the largest demonstration of national unity since the United States and Israel launched attacks in February. Participants marched through downtown Tehran in combat uniforms, carrying flags, as the government sought to project strength and rally public support amid economic deterioration from a U.S. naval blockade and new sanctions.

According to Iran's government, over 600,000 people had registered to participate in the campaign, known as "Janfaday-e Iran" ("ones who sacrifice their lives for Iran"), with over 1 million expected to join military training. State media estimated over 300,000 people were on the streets during Friday's march. The volunteers will form an additional security layer alongside the Revolutionary Guard and Basij militia. Tehran's Guard chief Gen. Hassan Hassanzadeh and Basij head Hossein Taeb both addressed the crowd, with Taeb declaring the volunteers would be ready for "full-fledged defense" and warning Iran's enemies of a "nightmare" ahead. President Masoud Pezeshkian and senior military commanders attended the event.

The rally featured displays of military hardware, including anti-aircraft batteries, truck-mounted machine guns, and drones used against ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Some participants trampled flags of the U.S. and Israel, while chanting slogans including "Death to America" and "Death to Israel." One 24-year-old participant, Marzieh Afaghi, stated: "I am here to tell Trump that we Iranians have no fear about his threats against our homeland."

On the same day, Iran claimed it had attacked a Togo-flagged oil tanker called the Trend in the Strait of Hormuz, citing what it described as an "illegal attempt" to pass through. The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations center confirmed a tanker was hit by a projectile, causing a fire that was subsequently extinguished. The UKMTO reported that ship transits facilitated by the U.S. military off Oman have averaged 24 per day over the past week, with overall traffic remaining approximately 90% lower than before the war began.

Analysts noted the rally also signaled that hard-liner factions within Iran's leadership may intensify efforts to suppress domestic dissent. In January, before the war, Iran experienced some of its largest nationwide protests in history over economic hardship and broader grievances. Activists reported a crackdown that killed over 7,000 people and resulted in tens of thousands detained. By May, government officials claimed more than 30 million Iranians—roughly one-third of the country's 90 million population—had volunteered to defend the nation.