Iran Mobilizes Hundreds of Thousands for Military Rally Amid Tensions

Hundreds of thousands of Iranians participated in a government-organized rally in Tehran on Friday, with organizers urging civilians to enlist in the military and prepare to "sacrifice their lives for Iran." This demonstration, dubbed "Janfaday-e Iran" (ones who sacrifice their lives for Iran), marked the largest public gathering in the country since military actions by the United States and Israel in February.

Iranian state media reported that over 300,000 people attended the rally, and Gen. Hassan Hassanzadeh, Tehran's guard chief, claimed more than 600,000 individuals had registered for a military training campaign. He projected that over a million people could eventually participate.

The volunteers are slated to receive basic military training, including instruction with assault rifles. This initiative aims to establish an additional security force to support Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its Basij militia, which has historically played a role in suppressing anti-government protests.

In a speech, the head of the Basij, Hossien Taeb, stated that these new trainees would be prepared for "full-fledged defense" and announced that similar rallies would occur in other Iranian cities. Taeb asserted that the new recruits would create a "nightmare" for Iran's adversaries.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, military commanders, and other senior officials were present at the rally. Some attendees stomped on American and Israeli flags while chanting "Death to America!" and "Death to Israel!"

"I am here to tell Trump that we Iranians have no fear about his threats against our homeland," one rally attendee, Marzieh Afaghi, told The Associated Press. "No one in history could invade Iran and remain there."

The event also served as a platform for Iran to display its military hardware. Anti-aircraft batteries were exhibited, and female Revolutionary Guard members, along with truck-mounted machine guns, were present. Iranian forces also showcased drones that have been used in attacks targeting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

![Iranian Basij forces with rifles carry a banner reading "We will kill" with an image of Donald Trump in a crosshair.]( "Iranian Basij forces with rifles carry a banner reading "We will kill" with an image of Donald Trump in a crosshair.")

This military display coincided with Iran's claim of another strike on commercial shipping in the strait. Iran stated its forces hit the Togo-flagged oil tanker Trend, alleging it attempted an unauthorized passage. The UK Maritime Trade Operations center reported that a tanker was struck by an unknown projectile, causing a fire that was quickly extinguished. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed responsibility for the incident.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical route for global oil and natural gas transportation. Disruptions there have been a significant factor in the ongoing conflict and have contributed to rising US gas prices.

This mobilization follows months of internal unrest in Iran. Nationwide protests erupted in January due to economic hardships, evolving into broader opposition to the ruling theocracy. Human-rights activists have reported thousands of deaths and tens of thousands of arrests during subsequent crackdowns, though figures vary.

In May, Iranian officials reported that over 30 million people had volunteered online or at public gatherings to support the regime, a figure that could not be independently verified by the AP.