Pezeshkian joins mass protest in Tehran against US, Israeli aggression
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian joins a mass protest in Tehran against US and Israeli aggression, signaling unity as Iran warns of a decisive response to continued attacks.
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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, center, gets into his car after attending a protest following the U.S. attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 22, 2025 (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian joined a massive public and student demonstration in Tehran’s Enghelab Square on Sunday, rallying against crimes committed by the United States and the Israeli occupation against the Iranian people.
The demonstration came in direct response to recent US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and Israeli aggression on Iran's territory, with protestors denouncing the assaults on civilian and military targets.
Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported that participants chanted slogans condemning the aggression and calling for national unity in defense of sovereignty.
تجمع الإيرانيين في ساحة الثورة بحضور الرئيس بزشكيان تنديدا بالع،،،دوان الامريكي- الاسرائيلي pic.twitter.com/zyvINXgfMT
— وكالة تسنيم للأنباء (@Tasnimarabic) June 22, 2025
Protest marks growing public support for Iran's armed forces
Demonstrators voiced their outrage over the strikes on vital infrastructure, expressing unwavering support for the Iranian armed forces and national leadership.
Pezeshkian’s presence was widely interpreted as a deliberate political signal—a show of support for Iran’s security and defense institutions at a time of heightened tension.
Observers say the rally reflects Iran’s increasingly unified domestic front, where both the public and state institutions are aligning in response to external aggression.
Read more: Wave of regional, int'l condemnations follows US airstrikes on Iran
Pezeshkian accuses US of directing Israeli attacks
Ahead of the rally, Pezeshkian accused the United States of being the primary architect of the recent aggression, stating that “Washington is the main orchestrator behind the Israeli attacks on Iran.”
He argued that the Israeli entity lacks the capabilities to attack Iran on its own.
Pezeshkian added that the US initially sought to mask its involvement, but after Iran’s swift retaliation and the Israeli regime’s failure to counter it effectively, Washington was forced to intervene more directly.
The demonstration comes just days after a dramatic spike in national security concerns. Iranian officials continue to emphasize the country’s readiness to respond to any violations of its sovereignty, a stance reinforced by widespread public backing and official messaging.
According to Pezeshkian, Sunday morning’s powerful retaliatory strikes carried out by the Iranian armed forces against the Israeli entity were “in truth, a response to the United States’ aggressive policies.”
US targets Iranian nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, Isfahan
At dawn on Sunday, American aircraft launched coordinated strikes on Iranian nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The operation was officially announced by US President Donald Trump, who claimed the strikes aimed to weaken Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
Tehran, however, maintains that its nuclear program is entirely peaceful, and its officials have warned that further aggression by either the US or the Israeli occupation will trigger immediate and severe responses.
Read more: Iran warns of NPT withdrawal, Strait of Hormuz closure after US attack