Thousands Pledge Allegiance to Iran’s New Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei in Tehran
Thousands in Tehran’s Enghelab Square pledge allegiance to new Iranian leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.
Thousands of people gathered on Monday in Tehran’s Enghelab Square to pledge allegiance to Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, AFP reported. The crowds carried Iranian flags and portraits of Mojtaba Khamenei, who assumed leadership following the death of his father, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on February 28.
The public demonstration marks the first major gathering of its kind since the leadership transition and comes amid escalating tensions with Israel and the United States. Supporters waved banners and chanted slogans in support of the Islamic Republic, signaling strong backing for the new leadership despite the ongoing conflict.
Mojtaba Khamenei inherits a nation facing widespread disruption and security challenges. In the past ten days, Iran has reported thousands of casualties in retaliation for airstrikes on Tehran, while launching missile and drone attacks on Israel and Gulf countries, targeting infrastructure, energy facilities, and military sites.
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The demonstration also comes against the backdrop of a near-complete nationwide internet blackout in Iran, which has limited access to information for the general public. Data monitoring group NetBlocks has noted that officials and state media continue to operate normally, while citizens remain largely cut off from independent updates.
Internationally, Iran has criticized European countries, including France, for enabling conditions that Tehran says encouraged U.S. and Israeli attacks. Meanwhile, Israel has launched “wide-scale” strikes on Tehran, Isfahan, and southern Iran in retaliation for Iranian missile launches, which killed at least one person in central Israel and injured others.
The gathering in Tehran highlights the intersection of domestic politics and international conflict, as Iran consolidates leadership under Mojtaba Khamenei while navigating an increasingly volatile regional situation. Observers say the show of loyalty signals continuity in Iran’s political and military strategy despite external pressures.
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