The largest state-sanctioned rally since the outbreak of war in February has been held in the Iranian capital of Tehran.

This is interpreted as a gesture to rally the public and emphasize national unity amid the worst economic hardship caused by U.S. maritime blockades and tight economic sanctions.

According to Iranian state media and foreign reports on the 18th (local time), an anti-U.S. state-sanctioned rally in the form of a military parade named "Janfada" (Sacrifice for Iran) was held in downtown Tehran on this day.

National defense and military training volunteers marched through downtown Tehran in combat uniforms, carrying flags.

Female participants held guns in their hands while wearing hijabs.

Some protesters trampled on U.S. and Israeli flags, and chants of "Death to America" and "Death to Israel" erupted everywhere.

Iranian state media estimated that more than 300,000 people poured into the streets on this morning.

State media explained that these volunteers will serve as additional security forces alongside the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iran's elite military organization, and its vanguard organization, the Basij paramilitary force.

Hassan Hassanzadeh, the commander of the IRGC in Tehran, said through state broadcast, "More than 600,000 people have applied to participate, and over 1 million people are expected to take part in training."

Hossein Taeb, the new commander of the Basij paramilitary force, said in his opening speech at the protest that the volunteers will prepare for total defense, adding that similar protests will be held in other cities soon.

As Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, military commanders, and high-ranking officials watched the march, Commander Taeb warned that "the new trainees will become a nightmare for Iran's enemies."

Marzieh Afaghi (24), who attended the rally with her husband and young baby, said, "We are here to tell U.S. President Donald Trump that we Iranians are not afraid of his threats against our homeland at all," adding, "No one in history has ever been able to invade Iran and stay."

The Iranian government also showed off its military might on this day by displaying drones and anti-aircraft guns used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Today's event also signaled that hardliners within the Iranian leadership will make more thorough preparations to suppress potential future protests against the theocracy.

In January, just before the outbreak of the war, Iran saw the largest nationwide anti-government protests in history, triggered by economic hardship.

Human rights activists claimed that more than 7,000 people were killed and tens of thousands were detained during the authorities' violent crackdown at the time.

(Photo: Yonhap News)