Web Desk: Thousands of Iranians took to the streets in several cities on Sunday, protesting what they described as US and Israeli aggression and voicing support for their country’s sovereignty following recent airstrikes that have heightened regional tensions.
Demonstrators waved Iranian flags, carried placards condemning Washington and Tel Aviv, and chanted slogans rejecting foreign intervention, according to witnesses and local reports.
Public rallies spread across multiple cities as residents expressed solidarity with the government despite the escalating security situation.
In the northeastern city of Sabzevar, thousands marched through main streets in a large procession. Protesters held Iranian flags and banners criticizing the United States and Israel while chanting in support of national unity.
Participants said the recent bombings and aerial attacks had not weakened public resolve. Instead, they argued, the events had strengthened their determination to defend Iran’s independence.
“We will not compromise on our country’s sovereignty,” several demonstrators said, adding that any external aggression against Iranian territory would be resisted.
Similar gatherings took place in other Iranian cities where citizens rallied to express solidarity with the government and opposition to foreign pressure.
Protesters said the current tensions demanded national unity and insisted that Iran’s political future should be determined solely by its own people.
They also emphasised that yielding to outside pressure was not consistent with the country’s political tradition or history.
Notably, some participants said they had previously taken part in anti-government demonstrations but still joined the rallies opposing foreign involvement.
One Iranian citizen told a U.S. news outlet that although he disagreed with certain government policies and had protested in the past, he could not accept external interference in Iran’s internal affairs.
“Every country has internal disagreements,” the man said. “But those issues must be resolved by the Iranian people themselves.”
He added that if any foreign power attempted to interfere in Iran’s affairs, the nation would unite to confront it.
Many demonstrators also pledged to stand alongside the government and security forces if threats against the country intensified.
Several said Iran’s history showed that when faced with external danger, citizens often set aside political differences to defend the country together.
The protests come as tensions in the region continue to rise following recent airstrikes and military exchanges. Analysts say such demonstrations often reflect a rally-around-the-flag effect, in which domestic divisions temporarily narrow in the face of perceived external threats.
Meanwhile, the international community is closely monitoring the situation. Several countries have urged restraint and called on all sides to reduce tensions through dialogue and diplomacy.
