Days after nationwide anti-government protests shook Iran, the nation drew tens of thousands of pro-government demonstrators to the streets in a show of power.
Thousands of Iranians filled a major square in central Tehran on Monday to support the Islamic republic and mourn security forces killed during protests, state television pictures showed.
People waving Iran’s flag packed the capital’s Enghelab (Revolution) Square as prayers were read for victims of what the government has termed “riots”.
Similar rallies were also under way in other cities after a call by President Masoud Pezeshkian, as per the images.
Track all the latest updates on Iran protests here
Activists groups based abroad claimed that while dozens of security force members have been killed, hundreds or even thousands of protesters have been shot dead in a crackdown, reported AP.
Why protests erupted in Iran?
Iran has been roiled by anti-government protests since 28 December after the Iranian rial collapsed and prices surged, significantly impacting living costs. The demonstrations quickly spread across the country and turned into a call for the ouster of the Ayatollah Khamenei-led government in the Islamic Republic.
Crowds set fire to the streets and chanted “Death to Khamenei”, directly challenging the supreme leader, who holds ultimate authority over the nation’s religious and state affairs.
Trump’s warning to Iran
On Sunday, US President Donald Trump said that Iranian leaders had reached out to seek negotiations following his warnings of possible military action, as widespread anti-government protests continued – with the death toll crossing 500.
“The leaders of Iran called” yesterday, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, adding that “a meeting is being set up… They want to negotiate.”
However, Trump added that “we may have to act before a meeting,” AFP reported.
Iran says ‘ready to negotiate’, but ‘prepared for war’
On Monday, 12 January, Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said that the nation is ready for negotiations, based on ‘mutual respect.’
“The Islamic Republic of Iran is not seeking war but is fully prepared for war,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told a conference of Foreign Ambassadors in Tehran broadcast by state TV. “We are also ready for negotiations but these negotiations should be fair, with equal rights and based on mutual respect.”
