Hundreds of thousands of people gathered at Tehran’s famous Inqilab Square to express solidarity with Iran’s Islamic Republic, joining the rally to voice their support for the country’s current system and its ayatollah. According to a report by Al Jazeera correspondent Cinem Koseoglu, hundreds of thousands of people across the country have registered their names under a programme called “Janfada-e-Iran,” a Persian phrase that roughly translates to “sacrifice for Iran.” The report says the programme has effectively become a demonstration conveying the message that Iran’s people are united and ready to make whatever sacrifice the country needs.
The core idea behind “Janfada-e-Iran” is “my life is a gift for my country.” Women and teenagers are also registering their names under the programme, and could be mobilised should a crisis or war situation arise. They are expected to be trained through members of the Basij force, which operates under Iran’s interior ministry, meaning the programme will function somewhat like a reserve force.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attended the rally and, in his remarks, described it as an expression of the people’s solidarity. According to Pezeshkian, the programme sends a message not only to the United States and Israel, the countries that attacked Iran, but also to the Islamic Republic itself — that Iran’s people are ready to face any crisis.