Iran marks revolution anniversary with rallies amid U.S. threats

Crowds thronged Tehran and different Iranian cities on Wednesday (February 11, 2026) to mark the forty seventh anniversary of the Islamic revolution that toppled the U.S.-backed Pahlavi monarchy, and to indicate solidarity with the federal government at a time when Iran faces the specter of one other conflict, with the U.S. shoring up army presence within the area.

On February 9, Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged Iranians to participate in “avenue marches” to display nationwide energy and drive “the enemy to despair”. On Wednesday (February 11), state TV broadcast visuals of demonstrators filling the streets, carrying portraits of Mr. Khamenei and Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the Islamic Republic’s founder, together with Iranian and Palestinian flags, and chanting slogans reminiscent of ‘Loss of life to America’ and ‘Loss of life to Israel’. State media claimed that vast crowds poured into Tehran’s Azadi Sq. and 1,400 cities and cities.

“From the very first days of the Revolution, the enemies tried to destroy our fledgling motion by means of actions reminiscent of creating division and staging coups,” President Masoud Pezeshkian, a reformist, stated whereas addressing a rally at Azad Sq.. He stated Iran was not in search of nuclear weapons and was prepared for verification, however added that it could not fold beneath strain.

“Our Iran is not going to yield within the face of aggression, however we’re persevering with dialogue with all our energy with neighbouring nations with a view to set up peace and tranquillity within the area,” Mr. Pezeshkian stated. “Our nation, Iran, is not going to yield to their extreme calls for,” he added, in accordance with the state media.

Iran’s final Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, fled the nation in mid-January 1979 amid nationwide protests. Mr. Khomeini, who was in exile in Paris, returned to the nation on February 1. On February 11, the downfall of the Pahlavi regime was full with the army declaring help for the revolution. The Iranian regime commemorates the revolution on at the present time yearly.

This 12 months’s anniversary celebrations are being held amid excessive tensions between Iran and the U.S. Within the first week of January, Iran witnessed widespread anti-government protests and riots, which had been put down by safety personnel. In keeping with Iranian authorities, not less than 3,117 individuals had been killed in violent protests and state crackdown.

U.S. President Donald Trump, who instructed Iranian protesters that “assistance is on the way in which”, has despatched an plane provider group and dozens of fighter jets and warships to the area. The U.S. and Iran held talks in Muscat on February 6, however there was no breakthrough. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who ordered air strikes on Iran in June 2025, triggered the 12-day conflict, is now in Washington to fulfill Mr. Trump. They’re anticipated to debate Iran amongst different matters.

Mr. Trump, in an interview on Tuesday (February 10, 2026), stated he’s contemplating sending a second plane provider to West Asia to organize for army motion in opposition to Iran ought to negotiations fail. “Both we are going to make a deal, or we must do one thing very powerful like final time,” stated Mr. Trump, referring to the U.S. air strikes on Iran’s nuclear amenities on June 22, 2025.

“Final time they didn’t consider I might do it. They overplayed their hand. This time, the talks are very completely different,” stated Mr. Trump. The U.S. has demanded that Iran’s nuclear programme, its missile manufacturing, and help for militias within the area be included on the agenda of the talks, whereas Iran has insisted it gained’t negotiate any points apart from the nuclear programme. After the February 6 talks, each Iran and the U.S. have signalled that they’d meet for a second spherical within the coming days.