TEHRAN: Hundreds of thousands of Iranians joined a government-organised rally in Tehran on Friday as authorities promoted a programme offering limited military training to civilians following months of conflict with the United States and Israel.
Participants in the “Janfaday-e Iran” initiative marched through central Tehran wearing combat uniforms and carrying Iranian flags, while President Masoud Pezeshkian, military commanders and senior officials watched.
The government has promoted the campaign as a demonstration of national unity while Iran faces worsening economic conditions, a US naval blockade of Iranian ports and additional American sanctions.
IRGC Says More Than 600,000 Have Registered
Tehran IRGC commander General Hassan Hassanzadeh told state television that more than 600,000 people had registered, while authorities expected over one million to receive training. State television estimated Friday’s Tehran turnout at more than 300,000.
However, those figures could not be independently verified.
Moreover, state media said volunteers would receive assault-rifle training and provide another security layer alongside the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its Basij force.
New Basij chief Hossein Taeb said similar rallies would follow in other Iranian cities.
Military Hardware Displayed During Tehran Rally
Authorities also displayed anti-aircraft systems, drones and truck-mounted machine guns during the event. Female IRGC members participated in the military-style parade.
Meanwhile, some demonstrators trampled US and Israeli flags and chanted slogans against both countries.
The mobilisation comes months after nationwide anti-government protests that initially emerged over economic conditions before expanding to broader grievances.
Activists said more than 7,000 people died during the subsequent crackdown and tens of thousands were detained. Those figures were not independently verified.
Iranian officials previously claimed more than 30 million people had expressed interest in the Janfaday-e Iran initiative through online registrations or public gatherings, another figure that remains independently unconfirmed.
