Hundreds of thousands of people rally in Iran in what multiple outlets describe as the largest government-organized show of defiance since the war began. Several reports say the gathering takes place on Friday and is framed as a display of national unity and resolve after months of fighting.

All the sources cited report that attendees express readiness to take up arms. Several outlets also note that state media have encouraged participation for days and reference messaging about training with assault rifles beginning soon. While the general thrust is consistent across outlets, the Belfast Telegraph frames the rally more specifically as defiance against the US, and other reports emphasize its scale and timing relative to the conflict’s start.

PBS NewsHour adds that the demonstration is the biggest since the United States and Israel attacks in February, placing the rally in a broader regional context. Overall, the coverage aligns on the rally’s size, government organization, and pro-mobilization messaging, with minor differences in emphasis and framing.