Hundreds of thousands attend Iran’s biggest government-organised rally since the war began — SkimNews
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- Iran held its largest government-organized rally since the US-Israel war began, with state media estimating over 300,000 marching through central Tehran pledging readiness to take up arms.
- Revolutionary Guard chief Gen. Hassan Hassanzadeh said over 600,000 people had registered for limited assault-rifle training under the "Janfaday-e Iran" program, with over 1 million expected to participate.
- New Basij head Hossein Taeb declared the volunteers would create a "nightmare" for Iran's enemies; President Masoud Pezeshkian, military commanders and senior officials watched the march.
- On the same day as the rally, Iran claimed an attack on the Togo-flagged tanker Trend in the Strait of Hormuz; UKMTO reported overall shipping traffic is 90% lower than before the war despite US-military-facilitated transits averaging 24 ships daily off Oman.
- The Guard displayed anti-aircraft batteries, combat drones used against ships, and truck-mounted machine guns manned by female members in black headscarves.
- Participants trampled US and Israeli flags while chanting "Death to America" and "Death to Israel," and the article signals hardliners like Taeb are positioned to suppress future demonstrations following January's crackdown that activists said killed over 7,000 people.
Why it matters: By registering 600,000 civilians for military training under hardliner Hossein Taeb's Basij while staging its largest pro-war rally and attacking another Hormuz tanker the same day, Iran's leadership is simultaneously expanding external combat capacity and internal repression — even as tanker traffic through Hormuz sits 90% below prewar levels.
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