Iran Defies International Pressure as Quds Day Rally Proceeds Amidst Attacks
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iranian leaders, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, participated in the annual Quds Day rally in Tehran on Friday, demonstrating defiance in the face of recent military actions targeting the capital. The rally, traditionally a display of anti-Israeli sentiment, was marked by an explosion that killed at least one woman, according to Iran’s official IRNA news agency.
Pezeshkian and top security official Ali Larijani both downplayed the impact of the strikes, characterizing them as desperate acts. Larijani, speaking on state television, stated, “These attacks stem from fear and desperation. A truly powerful entity wouldn’t resort to bombing demonstrations. It’s evident that their efforts have failed.” He further criticized U.S. President Donald Trump, asserting that he underestimates the resolve of the Iranian people.
The rally saw demonstrators trampling on images of Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while holding portraits of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, who recently succeeded his father as Supreme Leader.
The situation remains fluid, with reports of escalating regional conflict. Explosions were reported in Dubai after an Iranian drone struck the city’s financial district, damaging a building in the International Finance Centre. Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry reported intercepting dozens of drones, including one targeting its capital’s Diplomatic Quarter. Similar incidents were reported in Oman and Turkey, where a ballistic missile was intercepted.
France announced the death of its first soldier in the conflict, killed in an attack in the Erbil region of Iraq. A U.S. refuelling aircraft also crashed in Iraq, resulting in four fatalities, though officials stated it was not due to hostile fire. In Israel, a strike on the town of Zarzir injured around 60 people. Lebanon has also been heavily impacted, with authorities reporting 687 deaths from Israeli attacks.
President Trump, in a series of posts on Truth Social, claimed the U.S. is “totally destroying Iran” and warned of further escalation, stating, “Watch what happens to these deranged scumbags today.”
Adding to the complexity of the situation, reports indicate that Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is reportedly unaware of the ongoing war and his own ascension to the position. Sources in Tehran claim he remains in intensive care following an airstrike and is surrounded by security officials. It remains unclear if he was injured in the same strike that killed his father.
