In a bold display of regime loyalty, Iranians flooded Tehran’s streets in a rally backing Supreme Leader Khamenei, even as nationwide protests rage on, now in their third week. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spearheaded the event, vowing steadfastness against perceived external threats.

‘The people’s turnout emboldens us. We stand strong together on the ground,’ Araghchi told supporters, flanked by President Masoud Pezeshkian, who joined to counter the swelling anti-Khamenei sentiment. The gatherings aim to drown out dissent that’s turned deadly, with HRANA reporting 544 deaths and over 10,000 detentions.

Araghchi ramped up international blame during a Monday meeting with diplomats, unveiling what he described as concrete proof of U.S. and Israeli involvement in recent unrest. ‘We have documents showing their role in terrorist operations here,’ he stated, alleging Mossad agents fluent in Farsi infiltrated protests to sow discord.

The Islamic Republic, he insisted, prefers dialogue over conflict but is primed for defense. ‘Negotiations must be equitable, with equal rights and respect.’ This rhetoric follows violent confrontations where security forces clashed lethally with civilians, exacerbating the humanitarian toll.

As the nation grapples with division, these pro-government rallies signal an unyielding stance. Yet, with arrests surging and deaths climbing, questions loom over the sustainability of suppression tactics and the potential for broader escalation.