Thousands of Iranians took to the streets across the country on Monday in large rallies to condemn recent unrest that authorities say was fuelled by foreign powers, and to show support for the Islamic Republic.
The demonstrations were held in most provinces, including the capital Tehran. While rallies in many cities began at 2 pm local time, some provinces saw people gathering earlier in the morning. Officials described the turnout as a strong display of unity against what they called attempts by enemies to create chaos and division inside Iran.
“These rallies show that the Iranian people stand together and will not allow mercenaries and terrorists to destabilise the country,” an official was quoted as saying.
The rallies come after weeks of protests that began with economic grievances, including rising prices and inflation. While authorities acknowledged that such concerns are genuine, they accused the United States and Israel of exploiting the situation by encouraging violence and vandalism through public statements and media outlets linked to them.
Iranian leaders have repeatedly said that peaceful protest is a right, but rioting and attacks on security forces will not be tolerated. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said on Friday that Iran “will not back down against vandals” and called for national unity in the face of external threats.
President Masoud Pezeshkian echoed this message in a television interview on Sunday. “Protest is different from rioting,” he said, adding that creating insecurity in the country cannot be justified. He also said that the killing of civilians was “not acceptable at all” and accused the US and Israel of training and supporting violent elements.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said Iran respects the right to peaceful protest but would act firmly against what he described as armed terrorism. The judiciary has also vowed strict action against those involved in bloodshed and destruction, saying there would be no leniency.
At the rallies, many participants said they supported the Islamic Republic and rejected foreign interference, even while acknowledging economic hardships. “We have problems with inflation and livelihoods, but solutions must come from within Iran, not from those who have harmed our country,” said Fatemeh, a protester in Tehran.
Another demonstrator, Mohammad Ali Abbasi, said, “I am here to honour our martyrs and to tell our Leader that we will not allow Americans and Zionists to succeed in their dirty war against Iran.”
Meanwhile, tensions escalated further after US President Donald Trump warned of possible military action if protests in Iran turned bloody. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Trump’s remarks encouraged “terrorists” to target protesters and security forces in order to invite foreign intervention.
Trump said on Sunday that Iran’s leadership had contacted him seeking talks. “The leaders of Iran called yesterday. A meeting is being set up. They want to negotiate,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One. However, he added, “We may have to act before a meeting.”
The US president also issued a stark warning against any retaliation by Iran. “If they do that, we will hit them at levels that they’ve never been hit before,” he said.
Iran has declared three days of national mourning for those killed during the unrest, including members of the security forces. State media reported that more than 100 security personnel have died, while opposition groups claim higher casualties, including protesters. These figures could not be independently verified.
The protests mark another chapter in Iran’s long history of public demonstrations driven by political and economic issues.
