ALBAWABA- In a show of force amid rising anti-government protests, Iranian state media reported millions participating in pro-government rallies across major cities on Monday.
President Masoud Pezeshkian and senior officials marched in Tehran, waving national flags and chanting slogans denouncing the United States and Israel, framing the demonstrations as a “national resistance” against foreign-backed unrest.
State television broadcast footage of crowds converging on Revolution Square, labeling opposition protesters as “terrorists” influenced by external powers. Authorities encouraged citizen participation, presenting the rallies as a counterweight to weeks of opposition marches challenging the regime’s authority.
The mobilization comes as Iran faces widespread anti-regime protests that erupted on December 28, 2025, initially over economic grievances, including the rial’s dramatic devaluation, now trading at over 1.4 million to the U.S. dollar, rampant inflation, and severe urban water shortages.
Public anger has intensified over government spending on regional proxies amid international sanctions, with some demonstrators demanding the overthrow of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and invoking exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi.
By early January, protests had spread to all 31 provinces and over 200 cities, marking the most significant challenge to the theocracy since 2009.
Iran's Blackout Hour: Over 100 Security deaths as protests rage and the nation goes offlineClashes have intensified in Tehran, Mashhad, and other urban centers, with reports of arson targeting government symbols and security forces using live fire. Officials have blamed the violence on “foreign-linked terrorists,” vowing a harsh response and declaring three days of mourning for regime supporters.
Internationally, the unrest has drawn sharp warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Following their December 2025 meeting, Trump cautioned Tehran against killing protesters, stating the U.S. is “locked and loaded” for potential military action while monitoring reports of nuclear or missile development.
Netanyahu expressed support for the Iranian people’s “protests” and warned of severe consequences if Israel is targeted. Tehran accused Washington and Jerusalem of fomenting chaos, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi affirming readiness for “war and dialogue.” The combination of internal dissent and external pressure places the regime at its most vulnerable in decades, though no direct foreign intervention has yet occurred.
