Politics
Millions of Iranians rally on International Quds Day amid US-Israeli strikes
The event, which takes place on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan, is commemorated through mass rallies that saw citizens from all walks of life gathering in major cities, including Tehran, to demonstrate their unwavering support for Palestinians.
This year’s International Quds Day is particularly poignant, occurring amid the ongoing military aggression by the United States and Israel against Iran.
The attacks, which have lasted for over two weeks, have claimed over 1,300 Iranian lives and left more than 10,000 injured, with a significant number of casualties being women, children, and students.
In response, Iranians have rallied in vast numbers, holding Iranian and Palestinian flags, and displaying images of Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, the newly elected leader of the Islamic Revolution.
In Tehran’s Enqelab Square, participants chanted “God is Great” in response to explosions that were heard during the rally amid US and Israeli airstrikes which have targeted schools, hospitals, police stations, and historical landmarks.
The atmosphere of defiance and solidarity was palpable, with people pledging their loyalty to the late founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini, and his vision for the liberation of Palestine.
A notable feature of this year’s events has been the demonstrators’ allegiance to Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei. Many rally participants carried his images, signaling their support for his leadership and commitment to the ideals of the revolution.
Some participants even signed petitions and gathered in groups to affirm their loyalty to him
Top officials attended the rallies, with President Masoud Pezeshkian seen walking alone on the street, without any security escort.
Speaking at the rally in Tehran, Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani stated that US President Donald Trump “does not understand” the resolve of the Iranian people.
“The Iranian people are a determined and capable nation, and the more pressure Trump applies, the stronger our will becomes,” Larijani said.
Responding to a question about Israeli attacks on Quds Day participants, Larijani said that such actions are driven by “fear and desperation,” adding that the Israeli regime’s aggression demonstrates its weakening position.
In a statement issued by the Islamic Development Coordination Council, the significance of this year’s Quds Day was noted.
“The security equations of the region and the world have changed with the power of resistance,” the statement declared.
It further described how “the Middle East, once envisioned by enemies as a space for expansion, has transformed into a ‘resistant Middle East.’
The statement called for continued unity, saying: “We are resolute in our commitment to the ideals of Imam Khomeini and the martyred leader Ayatollah Khamenei. We will stand by our leaders until the last drop of our blood.”
It also condemned US and Israeli actions, calling them “clear war crimes” that must be addressed by international bodies.
President Masoud Pezeshkian, in a post on social media, urged Iranians to disappoint the country’s enemies through massive participation in the Quds Day marches.
Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf emphasized that this historic occasion has turned into a nightmare for the “fake and child-killing Zionist regime.”
The significance of this year’s International Quds Day rallies is further underscored by the ongoing US-Israeli aggression against Iran, which began two weeks ago.
The violent campaign has sparked outrage among Iranians and bolstered their resolve to defend the Palestinian cause.
Ayatollah Khamenei, in his first public message on Thursday, called for participation in Quds Day events, describing them as a unifying force for people worldwide.
Reports from across Iran reveal that the participation in this year’s Quds Day is more widespread and determined than ever.
The mass rallies, which are also taking place in over 900 cities and dozens of towns and villages, are a clear statement of defiance against the external forces that seek to weaken Iran and its allies in the region.
Even in adverse weather conditions—heavy snow and rain and cold temperatures—Iranians are flooding the streets to voice their unwavering support for Palestine under Israeli and US military aggression.
The central rally in Tehran, which began at multiple points across the capital and converged at the University of Tehran, featured Qur’an recitations, speeches, and chanting of slogans condemning US and Israeli atrocities in Gaza and other Palestinian territories.
International Quds Day was first proposed by Imam Khomeini in 1979, who designated the last Friday of Ramadan as a day of global solidarity with the Palestinian people.
The initiative is aimed at preventing the Palestinian cause from being forgotten amid other global issues.
Over the years, Quds Day has become a symbol of resistance against the occupation of Palestinian territories by Israel, with rallies held in numerous countries worldwide, including across West Asia, North Africa, and in Western nations like the US, the UK, France, and Germany.
Iran’s mass participation this year carries particular significance, occurring amidst a campaign of terrorism by the US and Israel against Iran, aimed at stifling the only beacon of hope for the world’s oppressed peoples and resistance movements.
The brutal attacks on Iran, including bombings that have targeted civilian infrastructure, schools, and hospitals, have served to deepen the public’s resolve to confront the Zionist regime and its supporters.
The Quds Day rallies in Iran are not only a display of political opposition but also of national unity. From north to south, east to west, the Iranian people have united across ethnic and religious lines to voice their anger at the US-Israeli war of terrorism.
In cities such as Ahvaz, Shiraz, and Mashhad, participants from diverse backgrounds, including Shia, Sunni, and ethnic minorities, have gathered in solidarity with Palestinians. They are joined by Iranians who are mourning the recent slaughter of their loved ones in the Israeli-US airstrikes.
The rallies also carry a personal dimension for many Iranians, particularly in light of the recent bombing of a girls’ school in the town of Minab, which resulted in the deaths of 175 students and teachers.
The spirit of Quds Day transcends national borders, with similar events taking place across the globe.
In countries like Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Pakistan, hundreds of thousands of people have joined in rallies to demonstrate their support for Palestine and denounce Israeli aggression.
Even in Western capitals, where political pressures often limit public demonstrations, Muslims and activists have gathered to show their solidarity with Palestinians.
- Iran dismisses US escort plan as counterproductive initiative.
- Dar reiterates diplomacy as only path forward.
- Tehran reviews US response via Pakistani mediators.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Monday night said talks with the United States were making progress with Pakistan’s “gracious effort,” while cautioning Washington against being drawn into further escalation amid a standoff over the Strait of Hormuz.
The statement comes after US and Iran launched new attacks in the Gulf on Monday as they wrestled for control over the Strait of Hormuz with duelling maritime blockades, shaking a fragile truce.
US President Donald Trump launched a new effort to get stranded tankers and other ships through the strait, the vital energy-trade chokepoint that has been virtually closed since the US and Israel began attacks on Iran in February, a war that has killed thousands of people across the region.
Trump gave scant details about his new effort, which he called “Project Freedom,” to help stuck ships travel through the strait when he announced it on social media, two days after a legal deadline under US law had passed for him to get authorisation from Congress for the war. Trump told Congress the war was “terminated” and the deadline was moot, a claim disputed by some lawmakers.
It was the first apparent attempt to use military force since last month’s ceasefire announcement to unblock the world’s most important energy shipping route, which Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has said can only happen with its permission.
The cost of shipping insurance has also rocketed. For weeks, the US Navy has blockaded Iran’s trade by sea, which Iran says is itself an act of war.
But Trump’s latest move, at least initially, appeared to have backfired, bringing no surge of merchant ship traffic while provoking a promised show of force from Iran, which has threatened to respond to any escalation with new attacks on its neighbours hosting US soldiers. Major shipping companies said they were likely to wait for an agreed end to hostilities before trying to cross the strait.
Meanwhile, Iranian FM Araghchi said Monday’s events showed there was no military solution to the crisis. He said peace talks were progressing with Pakistan’s mediation while warning the US and the UAE against being drawn into a “quagmire by ill-wishers.”
Criticising the US initiative aimed at escorting vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, Araghchi said: “Project Freedom is Project Deadlock.”
Nonetheless, the US military said two US merchant ships made it through the strait, without saying when, with the support of Navy guided-missile destroyers. While Iran denied any crossings had taken place in recent hours, Maersk said the Alliance Fairfax, a US-flagged ship, exited the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz accompanied by the US military on Monday.
The commander of U.S. forces in the region said his fleet had destroyed six small Iranian boats, which Iran also denied. Admiral Brad Cooper said he “strongly advised” Iranian forces to keep clear of U.S. military assets carrying out the mission.
Iranian authorities released a map of what they said was an expanded sea area now under their control, extending far beyond the strait to include long stretches of the UAE’s coastline.
‘Dialogue and diplomacy’
A day earlier, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a telephonic conversation with his Iranian counterpart, during which both sides discussed the evolving regional situation and Pakistan’s ongoing diplomatic efforts.
According to the Foreign Office, Araghchi appreciated Pakistan’s constructive role and mediation efforts, while Dar reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to promoting dialogue and engagement.
He stressed that diplomacy remained the only viable path to achieving lasting peace and stability.
Negotiations between Washington and Tehran have remained stalled since a ceasefire took effect on April 8, with tensions centred on Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz following US-Israeli strikes. The move has disrupted global flows of oil, gas and fertiliser, while the United States has responded by imposing a counter-blockade on Iranian ports.
Pakistan has emerged as a key intermediary in efforts to revive dialogue, hosting high-level engagements between the two sides in Islamabad last month, though a second round of talks has yet to materialise.
— With additional input from Reuters
- Hunan fireworks factory blast kills 21, injures 61.
- Xi orders thorough probe into deadly factory explosion.
- Nearly 500 rescuers deployed after Hunan explosion.
HONG KONG: A blast at a fireworks factory in China’s Hunan province has killed 21 people and injured 61, prompting President Xi Jinping to call for a thorough investigation, state media reported on Tuesday.
The blast in Hunan’s capital city of Changsha, home to a hub for fireworks manufacturing, occurred on Monday around 4:40pm (0840 GMT), according to reports by CCTV and Xinhua.
Videos on Chinese internet platforms showed thick smoke billowing from a large site with collapsed buildings and debris strewn around the area. Reuters could not verify the footage.
Nearly 500 firefighters, rescuers and medical personnel attended the scene, according to the South China Morning Post.
The blast happened at Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Company, media said. Reuters could not find a telephone listing for the company to seek comment.
Xi called for a speedy investigation to determine the cause of the blast and strict accountability for the incident, Xinhua reported.
Last year, China exported $1.14 billion worth of fireworks, more than two-thirds of global sales, data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity shows.
Xi also ordered authorities to strengthen risk screening and hazard control in key industries, enhance public safety and ensure the safety of people’s lives and property.
Last week, he urged a nationwide upgrade in China’s disaster response capacity.
The US Secret Service said on Monday it was on the scene of an officer-involved shooting in Washington in which one person was shot by law enforcement.
“US Secret Service personnel are on the scene of an officer-involved shooting at 15th Street and Independence Avenue in Washington, D.C. One individual was shot by law enforcement; their condition is currently unknown,” the Secret Service said in a statement on X. The White House was briefly locked down on Monday afternoon.
The DC Police Department said police were on the scene of the probe.
“The scene is secure. Avoid the area as roads will be closed for several hours,” police said in a statement.
Law enforcement agents have been on alert in recent days in the US capital following a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner late last month, over which a suspect has been arrested.
This is a developing story, and it is being updated with new developments.
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