TEHRAN – Iranians took to the streets on Monday, converging in massive rallies to pledge strong allegiance to Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, the new Leader of the Islamic Revolution.

The scenes in Tehran’s Enqelab Square, for example, were nothing short of breathtaking. A sea of people from all walks of life, waving national flags and resolute in their conviction, chanted powerful slogans like “Down with the U.S.” and “Down with Israel,” fueled by a deep-seated sense of national pride and righteous indignation.  

“We will stand by the sacred ideals of the Islamic Revolution until our last breath,” said a 15-year-old participant to the Tehran Times.

Another participant explicitly condemned the brutal actions of America and Israel, saying the world would not forget they killed some 170 innocent schoolgirls on the very beginning hours of the war. 

A university student said the timing of these demonstrations was particularly crucial. “It occurs in the wake of relentless U.S. and Israeli airstrikes that have claimed the lives of many Iranians and caused widespread destruction to civilian infrastructure.”

A middle-aged man said he believed that the gathering served as a powerful demonstration of national unity and resilience, solidifying the new Leader’s position in a time of profound challenge.

Some participants in Tehran displayed the visible marks of the ongoing conflict, with some people smearing their palms with red paint symbolizing the blood shed by aggressors.  

Pictures of both Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his son were prominently displayed, serving as potent reminders of the sacrifices made for the Revolution.

In some places, religious fervor soaked many of the gatherings, with some citizens reciting prayers for the new leader and the preservation of Iranian territorial integrity. 

A powerful sentiment echoed throughout the demonstrations was the unwavering defiance against those attempting to jeopardize national unity, particularly in the face of continued provocations from their arch enemies like the U.S. President, Donald Trump.

There was also a gesture of profound unity as Sunni communities shoulder to shoulder with their Shia compatriots established profound obedience to the new leadership. 

In that regard, a number of Sunni scholars from West Azarbaijan province released a statement affirming their unwavering support for the new Leader, declaring their dedication to uphold the “red flag of martyrdom” and vehemently resisting any attempt to extinguish the flames of resistance. 

“Like other dear compatriots, we pledge to hold the red flag of martyrdom on our shoulders and never let the flame of resistance against oppression be extinguished,” the scholars stated.

Shiraz, Kerman, Ahvaz, Tabriz, Hamedan, and Ardabil, among other major cities, echoed the same avid display of solidarity.

In the holy city of Mashhad, thousands commemorated Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, reaffirming their allegiance to the new leader. 

Meanwhile, in Varamin, south of Tehran, families, youth, and clerics engaged in symbolic ceremonies, proudly displaying pictures of the late Imam Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Revolution, and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and chanting affirmations of support for Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei’s leadership.

In Shiraz, among those who pledged allegiance to the new leader of the Islamic Revolution were representatives of all Iranian ethnic groups, including Lors and Turks; many of them came wearing their colorful local costumes to demonstrate their full support for the Leader and to show national unity. 

Following the tragic martyrdom of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28th, a heinous act attributed to Israeli airstrikes on his office in downtown Tehran, the nation’s Assembly of Experts voted to appoint Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, aged 56, as the third Leader of the Islamic Revolution.

On Monday, resounding echoes of “God is greater, Khamenei is the leader” reverberated throughout almost all gatherings, which can be deemed as a powerful affirmation of faith and allegiance that will resonate for generations to come.

AM