The rallies on Monday coincided with the second day of a three-day mourning declared for those Iranian authorities call martyrs killed in recent clashes. They followed weeks of anti-regime protests sparked by economic crisis on December 28, 2025, which have spread to dozens of cities with calls to overthrow Khamenei and restore the pre-1979 monarchy. Rights groups report over 500 deaths, mostly protesters, from security crackdowns, thousands of arrests, and an internet blackout since January 8, while officials blame foreign-backed terrorists. Pro-regime voices claimed millions attended, though independent estimates say tens of thousands, highlighting a sharp divide as both sides vie for street control.
