DUBAI – Following more than a month of targeted killings, Iranian leadership has shifted strategies to demonstrate their continued authority by having top officials appear publicly alongside crowds supporting the Islamic Republic in Tehran’s streets.
In recent appearances, Iran’s president and foreign minister have each mingled with groups numbering in the hundreds throughout central Tehran. State television broadcast footage Tuesday showing both officials taking photographs with citizens, engaging in conversations with the public, and greeting supporters who had assembled in public spaces.
Sources and experts indicate these public displays represent a deliberate strategy by Iran’s religious leadership to demonstrate strength and control over both the crucial Strait of Hormuz and their population, despite ongoing U.S.-Israeli operations designed to “obliterate” their regime.
A source with connections to the hardline government explained that these public appearances aim to demonstrate the Islamic Republic remains “unshaken by strikes and that it remains in control and vigilant” throughout the continuing conflict.
The U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran commenced February 28 with the assassination of longtime Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and multiple senior military officials in a series of attacks that have continued targeting high-ranking figures.
The new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has remained out of public view since assuming leadership March 8 following his father’s death. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi was reportedly removed from Israel’s target list during diplomatic efforts last month, including Pakistani mediation attempts to facilitate Tehran-Washington negotiations to end hostilities.
Peace negotiations have apparently stalled as Tehran calls U.S. proposals “unrealistic.” In this context, recent public appearances by President Masoud Pezeshkian and Araqchi seem intended to display resistance, though not necessarily widespread popular backing.
A high-level Iranian official stated that leaders’ public visibility shows “the establishment is not intimidated by Israel’s targeted killing of top Iranian figures.”
When questioned about whether Iran’s foreign minister or president appeared on any assassination lists, Israeli military spokesperson Nadav Shoshani declined Friday to “speak about specific personnel.”
EVENING DEMONSTRATIONS TO DISPLAY STRENGTH
Despite significant damage, Tehran appears strengthened by withstanding weeks of intensive U.S.-Israeli bombardment, launching attacks on Gulf nations hosting American forces and proving its capacity to effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz.
Wednesday saw U.S. President Donald Trump promise more aggressive military action against Iran while providing no timeline for concluding the conflict. Tehran responded by threatening the United States and Israel with “more crushing, broader and more destructive” retaliation.
With encouragement from religious authorities, Islamic Republic supporters gather nightly in public squares to demonstrate allegiance even as bombing continues nationwide.
Experts suggest the government seeks to increase the “political and reputational” consequences of the strikes during a period when civilian deaths are deeply troubling to Iranians.
Omid Memarian, a senior Iran expert at DAWN, a Washington-based research organization, explained that deploying officials into public gatherings represents a multi-faceted approach, including efforts to maintain core supporter morale during intense pressure.
“The system relies heavily on this base; if its supporters withdraw from public space, its ability to project control and authority weakens significantly,” Memarian stated.
In interviews with state media, some crowd members express absolute loyalty to Iranian leadership; others oppose their country’s bombing regardless of political views; and some have connections to the system, including government workers, students and others whose income depends on it.
Hadi Ghaemi, director of the New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran, said the government uses these loyal gatherings as human protection to increase the price of potential assassination attempts.
“By being in the middle of large crowds they have protections that would make Israeli-American attacks against them very bloody and generate sympathy worldwide,” he explained.
POTENTIAL OPPOSITION AVOIDS NIGHTTIME STREETS
The Islamic Republic originated from a 1979 revolution supported by millions of Iranians. However, decades of governance characterized by corruption, oppression and poor administration have eroded that backing, alienating many citizens.
Though there have been few signs of anti-government demonstrations like those that began in January and ended after violent suppression, the establishment has implemented severe tactics including arrests, executions and massive security deployments to prevent any signs of opposition.
Human rights organizations have cautioned about “rushed executions” during wartime after Iran executed at least seven political prisoners during the conflict.
“Many potential protesters are frightened by the continuing presence of armed men and violent crowds in the streets and largely stay at home once darkness falls,” Ghaemi noted.
