Iranians rally in biggest show of defiance against US since war began

Volunteers rallied through downtown Tehran to take part in a campaign highlighting ‘self-sacrifice’ for Iran.Hundreds of thousands of Iranians have marched in a government-organised show of defiance in Tehran, pledging their readiness to take up arms.The Iranian government showcased a newly formed volunteer force at the rally on Friday. It will receive limited military and emergency response training to serve as an additional layer of security for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij militia.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Mahsa Amini death four years on: Iranians reflect on ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’list 2 of 3The cost of Iran’s regional leveragelist 3 of 3What are all the sanctions Iran is under?end of listVolunteers rallied through downtown Tehran in combat uniforms, some carrying flags and weapons, while the government displayed drones, anti-aircraft batteries and other weaponry.Iranian authorities said 313,000 people joined the event in the capital. Attendance figures could not be independently verified.Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends the military march in Tehran, Iran, September 18, 2026 [Majid Asgaripour/WANA via Reuters]Tehran’...