Pro-regime crowds gather in Iran after authorities urge nationwide rallies

Crowds have gathered in Iranian cities after authorities called for nationwide rallies to defy enemy “plots,” state television says, over two weeks into the war with Israel and the United States.

The rallies come on a night usually marked by Persian New Year (Nowruz) festivities, with the authorities apparently keen to prevent any anti-government dissent at a time when people traditionally take to the streets.

Large crowds rally from the early evening in the capital, Tehran, and other cities, many waving the Iranian flag, as images on state TV show.

It had earlier broadcast a message from authorities urging people to join religious groups across the country for a “popular gathering to neutralize the potential plots of elements of the Zionist enemy.”

The call came after Israel said it had killed Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani, which has not been confirmed by Tehran, and ahead of expected evening celebrations of Chaharshanbe Suri, an ancient Iranian festival of light and fire marked before Nowruz.

Reza Pahlavi, the eldest son of Iran’s last shah ousted by the revolution that brought the Islamic Republic to power, on Tuesday called for peaceful Chaharshanbe Suri celebrations and for people to “avoid any tension, confrontation, or even approaching” security forces in the streets.

Iran was rocked by mass protests that peaked in January but were met with a violent crackdown.

Images on state TV showed a large crowd of men being led in prayer in Punak square in Tehran, which in January was a site of massive protests full of people chanting slogans against the Islamic Republic.

Around 8:00 pm local time, Tehran’s main streets were quiet, with the exception of some cars flying Iranian flags.

But the smell of fire wafted over some streets, and a few fireworks burst over the city as people whistled joyfully from apartment windows.