People take part in a funeral procession for the seven Iranians killed in the Israeli attack on the consular section of the Iranian embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus, on International Quds Day in Tehran, Iran, on April 5, 2024. People gathered in large-scale rallies across Iran on Friday to condemn Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip and its deadly attack on Iran's consulate in Syria. The nationwide rallies were staged on International Quds Day, which was initiated by Iran in 1979 to express support for the Palestinians and is observed annually on the last Friday of Ramadan. (Xinhua/Shadati)
TEHRAN, April 5 (Xinhua) -- People gathered in large-scale rallies across Iran on Friday to condemn Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip and its deadly attack on Iran's consulate in Syria.
The nationwide rallies were staged on International Quds Day, which was initiated by Iran in 1979 to express support for the Palestinians and is observed annually on the last Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
In Tehran, the demonstrators held a funeral procession for the seven Iranians killed in the Israeli attack on the consular section of the Iranian embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus on Monday, carrying pictures of the slain and banners featuring slogans against Israel and the United States.
Two veteran commanders of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), namely Mohammad-Reza Zahedi and his deputy, Mohammad-Hadi Haji Rahimi, as well as five officers accompanying them, died in the Israeli attack.
During the rallies, the flags of Iran and Palestine, as well as pictures of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and late top commander Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S.-ordered drone strike in January 2020, were also displayed by the protestors.
Many Iranian officials and military commanders took part in the rally in Tehran, among whom were President Ebrahim Raisi, Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, cabinet ministers, IRGC Chief Commander Hossein Salami, and Commander of the IRGC's Quds Force Esmaeil Qa'ani.
Secretary-General of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement Ziad al-Nakhalah also attended the rally.
In an address to the people, Salami condemned the United States for supporting Israel's "crimes" politically, financially and logistically, adding that Israel's "malicious" moves in the region were indicative of its miscalculations of the Muslim world.
The IRGC chief commander cautioned that Israel would face consequences for its "conspiracies" in the region, emphasizing that Israel must realize that by creating insecurity, it cannot guarantee its own safety.
In response to the Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate, he said Iran would not leave any hostile actions unanswered, noting that "our brave men will punish Israel."
Protestors issued a statement at the end of the rallies, saying Israel's "desperate" moves "will definitely receive a tough and regret-inducing response" from Iran, according to the semi-official Fars news agency. ■
People take part in a funeral procession for the seven Iranians killed in the Israeli attack on the consular section of the Iranian embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus, on International Quds Day in Tehran, Iran, on April 5, 2024. People gathered in large-scale rallies across Iran on Friday to condemn Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip and its deadly attack on Iran's consulate in Syria. The nationwide rallies were staged on International Quds Day, which was initiated by Iran in 1979 to express support for the Palestinians and is observed annually on the last Friday of Ramadan. (Xinhua/Shadati)
People take part in a funeral procession for the seven Iranians killed in the Israeli attack on the consular section of the Iranian embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus, on International Quds Day in Tehran, Iran, on April 5, 2024. People gathered in large-scale rallies across Iran on Friday to condemn Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip and its deadly attack on Iran's consulate in Syria. The nationwide rallies were staged on International Quds Day, which was initiated by Iran in 1979 to express support for the Palestinians and is observed annually on the last Friday of Ramadan. (Xinhua/Shadati)
People take part in a funeral procession for the seven Iranians killed in the Israeli attack on the consular section of the Iranian embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus, on International Quds Day in Tehran, Iran, on April 5, 2024. People gathered in large-scale rallies across Iran on Friday to condemn Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip and its deadly attack on Iran's consulate in Syria. The nationwide rallies were staged on International Quds Day, which was initiated by Iran in 1979 to express support for the Palestinians and is observed annually on the last Friday of Ramadan. (Xinhua/Shadati)
People take part in a funeral procession for the seven Iranians killed in the Israeli attack on the consular section of the Iranian embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus, on International Quds Day in Tehran, Iran, on April 5, 2024. People gathered in large-scale rallies across Iran on Friday to condemn Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip and its deadly attack on Iran's consulate in Syria. The nationwide rallies were staged on International Quds Day, which was initiated by Iran in 1979 to express support for the Palestinians and is observed annually on the last Friday of Ramadan. (Xinhua/Shadati)
People take part in a funeral procession for the seven Iranians killed in the Israeli attack on the consular section of the Iranian embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus, on International Quds Day in Tehran, Iran, on April 5, 2024. People gathered in large-scale rallies across Iran on Friday to condemn Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip and its deadly attack on Iran's consulate in Syria. The nationwide rallies were staged on International Quds Day, which was initiated by Iran in 1979 to express support for the Palestinians and is observed annually on the last Friday of Ramadan. (Xinhua/Shadati)
People take part in a funeral procession for the seven Iranians killed in the Israeli attack on the consular section of the Iranian embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus, on International Quds Day in Tehran, Iran, on April 5, 2024. People gathered in large-scale rallies across Iran on Friday to condemn Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip and its deadly attack on Iran's consulate in Syria. The nationwide rallies were staged on International Quds Day, which was initiated by Iran in 1979 to express support for the Palestinians and is observed annually on the last Friday of Ramadan. (Xinhua/Shadati)
