Quds Day in Iran: Street Has the Battlefield’s Back

This year’s Quds Day rallies became historic as the Israeli-American camp despite heavy bombardment of the capital and other cities failed to break the resistance of the Iranians. People once again turned out to, defying the aggression, show that they still support the Palestinian cause and the Islamic Republic in their country.

The mourning people of Iran, grieving the loss of the martyred Leader of the Revolution, took to the streets with fasting hearts in the holy month of Ramadan to create yet another historic scene of resilience and steadfastness in the history of the Islamic Revolution. In response to the message from Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, the new supreme leader, Iranians marked this year’s Quds Day with even greater splendor, sending a clear message to the world: they stand firmly behind their leadership.

Throughout pivotal moments in history, the people of Iran have defended the ideals of the Islamic Revolution by taking to the streets, and once again, in the face of the most challenging times, they demonstrated to the world that the bond between the nation and the Islamic Republic is unbreakable. Neither chaos nor war can undermine this unity.

Exemplary courage under bombardment

On Quds Day this year, the Iranians made a splash, turning out even in larger numbers than previous years despite being under heavy psychological warfare and a brutal bombing campaign.

In the hours leading up to the Quds Day rally, the Israeli military issued warnings for residents of areas in Tehran close to the protest routes, including Tehran University and City Theater, urging them to leave these locations. However, the people, undeterred by these warnings, continued their march peacefully, chanting slogans that resonated with defiance even in the face of bombings in certain parts of Tehran.

The courage of Iranians on Quds Day astonished many analysts and observers worldwide, with some social media users noting that enemy bombs could not dissuade the Iranian people from taking to the streets. This stands in stark contrast to the millions of Israelis in the occupied territories, who flee to shelters at the sound of sirens. According to Hebrew media, thousands of settlers have transformed these relatively safe places into their homes, abandoning their residences in fear.

The presence of millions at the Quds Day rally served as a significant morale boost for officials and armed forces, empowering them to stand firm against enemy aggression. Over the past two weeks, Iranians demonstrated their resolve by gathering in city squares and streets, ensuring that adversaries and foreign-backed separatists could not exploit the wartime situation for their own agendas. Their epic turnout for Quds Day showcased their unwavering support.

When the public assembles in such large numbers, it becomes considerably more challenging for enemies. American leaders and the Israeli regime had initially factored in popular protests against the Islamic Republic before any aggression towards Iran. However, this scenario has also failed; the people are not only unyielding in the face of widespread attacks from aggressors but are also escalating their presence in the streets in defense of Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Despite internal differences, the Iranians have made it clear that they will not allow even an inch of their land to fall into the hands of foes, nor let criminals dictate their fate.

Officials joined the rallies

Perhaps the world thought that given the critical security conditions and assassination of officials and military commanders in day one of war, the officials this year will not join the marches. But this was wrong thinking. They took to the streets like ordinary people.

Contrary to the claims of Washington and Tel Aviv officials who suggested that Iranian leaders were hiding away and conducting meetings underground, officials demonstrated their defiance of adversaries with clenched fists and bold declarations, even amidst missile attacks, showing they fear no aggression from their enemies.

Although Iran is facing widespread aggression, the images of officials taking selfies with the people in the streets and sharing laughs together created a picture of a stable and calm country, strengthening the unity and solidarity between Iranians and their government. Some foreign media outlets, sharing photos of the Iranian president mingling with citizens without security details, subtly questioned whether any Western leaders would dare to behave the same way amid warfare.

The monumental presence of millions of Iranians during the Quds Day rally served as a clear message to adversaries, telling them that they will continue this fight until a decisive victory is achieved. Even if the conflict prolongs, the Iranian people pledge to defend their nation and the Islamic Republic, just as they have thwarted the enemy’s goals with nightly gatherings over the past two weeks.

This year’s Quds Day was a clear sign of Iran’s victory in the war and also firmness of the Islamic Republic, a political system having its roots deep in the people’s lives and faith, with no weapon capable of separating them from it.

For many, this year’s Quds Day, amid the American-Israeli bombings, transcended a mere rally; they walked this path not just for participation, but in response to their leader’s message, aiming to convey a clear and resolute message to the world.

This message resonates in the streets through shouts, slogans, and waves of flags: the Iranian people want the world to hear that the Israeli regime, which has occupied Palestine for decades and martyred many children, now seeks to complete its galley of atrocities with its brutal aggression against Iran. However, the brave people of Iran will not allow these criminals to extend their bloody hands into their land.