Hundreds of thousands of Iranians took part on Friday in a government-organized rally in Tehran, with the regime calling on citizens to join a military training program and be ready to “sacrifice their lives” for the country. The rally, the largest since the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran in February, served as a message of internal unity as well as a demonstration of military strength.
The rally, called “Janfaday-e Iran” (“those who sacrifice their lives for Iran”), took place at a time when the country is facing intense economic pressure due to U.S. sanctions and the naval blockade of Iranian ports.
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At the same time, the event was clearly intended as a show of force by Tehran, with the government seeking to project an image of national unity in the face of external pressures.
Iranian state media reported that more than 300,000 people participated in Friday’s rally.
Iran says 313,000 people have been mobilized in Tehran as part of a broader defense strategy, with volunteers prepared for training and possible future crises.
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The commander of the Tehran Revolutionary Guards, General Hassan Hasanzadeh, stated that more than 600,000 people have already signed up for the military training campaign, estimating that the total number of participants could exceed 1 million.
The volunteers are expected to receive basic military training, which will include, among other things, training in the use of assault rifles.
Thousands of people took part in the “Sacrifice for Iran” campaign in Tehran, staging a march from Imam Hossein Square to Enghelab Square to demonstrate national unity.
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According to Iranian authorities, the goal is to establish a new level of security that will operate alongside the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the paramilitary organization Basij (Basij), which has played a significant role in suppressing anti-government protests.
The head of the Basij, Hossein Taeb, stated that the new volunteers will be ready for “full defense” and announced that similar rallies will be held in other Iranian cities.
As he noted, the new recruits will be a “nightmare” for Iran’s enemies.
Hundreds of thousands marched through Tehran earlier in the state-organized “Sacrifice for Iran” parade, with President Pezeshkian in attendance.
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Messages Against the U.S. and Israel
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, military commanders, and other high-ranking officials attended the rally.
Some protesters trampled on American and Israeli flags, while chants such as “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” rang out from the crowd.
“I came here to tell Trump that we Iranians are not afraid of his threats against our homeland. No one in history has ever been able to invade Iran and remain there,” rally participant Marizeh Afaghi told the Associated Press.
Thousands took part in the “Sacrifice for Iran” (Janfada-e-Iran) parade in Tehran, marching from Imam Hossein Square to Enghelab Square.
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The event also provided an opportunity for Tehran to showcase some of its military equipment.
Anti-aircraft systems were on display at the rally, while female members of the Revolutionary Guards wearing black headscarves stood next to vehicles mounted with machine guns.
At the same time, Iranian forces displayed drones that have been used in attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important maritime corridors for the transport of oil and natural gas.
The military mobilization took place as Iran announced a new attack against commercial shipping in the region.
Tehran reported that its forces struck the Togol-flagged oil tanker Trend, accusing it of attempting an unauthorized passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, the British UK Maritime Trade Operations center announced that a tanker was struck by an unknown projectile, causing a fire that was quickly extinguished.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Strait of Hormuz has become a critical factor in the conflict in the Middle East, as any disruption to shipping threatens one of the world’s most important energy corridors, already causing a spike in fuel prices in the U.S.
New Mobilization Following Internal Unrest
The new campaign to mobilize civilians for military service comes after months of social unrest in Iran.
In January, nationwide protests erupted over economic hardship, which subsequently evolved into a broader challenge to the country’s political system.
Human rights organizations have reported thousands of deaths and tens of thousands of arrests during the ensuing crackdown, although the numbers vary depending on the source.
Iranian officials have also claimed that more than 30 million people declared online or at public rallies that they were willing to defend the regime in May, a figure that, according to the Associated Press, has not been independently verified.
Source: Proto Thema
