Protests against the 2026 Iran war

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Protests against the 2026 Iran war
Part of Reactions to the 2026 Iran war
"Free Iran Demonstration" opposing the US–Israeli strikes in Washington, D.C., with the demonstrators carrying a large replica of the preamble to the United States Constitution, 28 February 2026
Date	28 February 2026 – present (1 month and 5 days)
Location	Worldwide
Caused by	2026 Israeli–United States strikes on Iran and assassination of Ali Khamenei Anti-imperialism Anti-Zionism Anti-Western sentiment Anti-Americanism (outside the US) [not verified in body]
Methods	Protests Demonstrations Riots Civil disobedience
Parties
Anti-war demonstrators Pro-Iran/Pro-Islamic Republic demonstrators Security forces (in some locations) Pro-war demonstrators
Casualties and losses
Pakistan: 26–35 killed, 120+ injured

Following strikes against Iran on 28 February 2026 by a joint military operation conducted by Israel and the United States against the Government of Iran, including the assassination of Ali Khamenei, the long time Supreme Leader of Iran, protests opposing the war were held in several countries.^[1][2] In addition to Khamenei's death, the strikes targeted Iranian military sites, nuclear facilities, and government infrastructure, resulting in the deaths of other high-ranking officials.^[3][4]

Protests erupted in multiple countries, with demonstrators condemning the attacks as acts of aggression and calling for an end to foreign intervention, and some expressing support for the government of Iran.^[5][6] In Iran, pro-government rallies occurred in major cities such as Tehran, where crowds gathered to mourn Khamenei and denounce the strikes.^[7][3] Internationally, anti-war groups organized demonstrations in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East.^[2] Violence also occurred in some locations, including near U.S. diplomatic facilities in Iraq and Pakistan.^[8][9]

The demonstrations have varied in scale, from hundreds in U.S. cities to thousands in Tehran.^[10] In contrast, celebratory demonstrations supporting the strikes, particularly among Iranian diaspora communities opposed to the Islamic Republic, have also occurred but are distinct from these anti-war actions.^[1]

Operation Epic Fury, a coordinated Israeli–U.S. military campaign against Iran, was launched on 28 February 2026.^[11] The operation was justified by U.S. president Donald Trump as a response to Iran's nuclear program and its suppression of domestic protests in January 2026, which had resulted in thousands of deaths.^[6] Iranian state media confirmed Khamenei's death, prompting retaliatory missile strikes by Iran on Israeli and U.S. targets in the region.^[3]

The protestors have framed the strikes as violations of international law.^[2]

In Tehran, pro-government demonstrators marched on 28 February, waving Islamic Republic flags and chanting against the U.S. and Israel.^[7] Similar rallies occurred in Yasuj, where crowds mourned Khamenei.^[6] State media reported gatherings in Enqelab Square on 1 March.^[3]

On March 28, 2026, anti-war protests broke out across Israel. 22 people were arrested during protests in twenty locations including Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Jerusalem.^[12][13]

Demonstrations occurred in multiple cities in the United States on 28 February. In Washington, D.C., hundreds protested near the White House.^[5] In New York City, pro-Iranian protests took place in Times Square.^[2] Protests were also held in other cities including Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, San Francisco, and Philadelphia.^{[14][15][10][16]} The protests were sponsored mainly by a coalition of left-wing groups critical of the United States' involvement in the strikes.^[17] These groups include the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition, the 50501 movement, American Muslims for Palestine, The People's Forum, Palestinian Youth Movement, CodePink, Black Alliance for Peace, Democratic Socialists of America, and the National Iranian American Council, who all gathered to denounce the United States' Iran strikes as illegal and a violation of international law.^[17][18] Actress and activist Jane Fonda joined anti-war demonstrators sponsored by these groups at a Los Angeles rally.^[19]

Pro-Iran demonstration was organized by the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque on 1 March condemning Khamenei's death and demanding the intervention of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.^[20] Anti-war demonstrations were staged by Ganosanhati Andolan in Dhaka on 6 March, demanding Bangladeshi government's initiative to end the "sacrilegious war" against Iran.^[21]

Over 1,300 demonstrators, mainly affiliated with the Communist Party of Greece, protested in Athens, with people holding ‌banners and placards reading, "Hands off Iran" and "Close Souda base".^[22]

Shia Muslims protested the killing of Ali Khamenei across India on 1 March 2026. Candle marches, demonstrations and protests were held by the Shias and supporting political parties in the states and union territories of Bihar, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Ladakh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh.^[23][24][25] In many places, demonstrators carried portraits of Khamenei, and raised anti-US and anti-Israel slogans while mourning his death through various rituals.^[23][26][27]

Several civil groups organized protests in front of the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta in support of Iran, and called for Indonesia to leave the U.S.-formed Board of Peace.^[28]

In Baghdad, pro-Iranian protesters attempted to approach the U.S. Embassy on 1 March, leading to clashes with security forces using tear gas.^[29][8]

In March, the winner of the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize Nihon Hidankyo issued a statement calling a cease-fire and accusing the United States and Israel of carrying out "preemptive strikes on Iran that disregard international law."^[30] On March 7, anti-war protest was held in Nagasaki which was also joined by Koichi Kawano, a survivor of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki.^[31] Om March 25, 24,000 demonstrators gathered outside the National Diet in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo on March 25 to protest against the war.^[32] On March 28, an anti-war protest was organized by the civil group Paresuchina ni Heiwa o! Kinkyū Kōdō (lit. 'Peace for Palestine! Emergency Action'), which was held in front of Shinjuku Station and attended by 700 people.^[33]

On 8 March, protests were reported outside of the US consulate in Mexico City. Protesters were seen with a portrait of Ali Khamenei, waving Iranian and Lebanese flags and beating a piñata depicting Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.^[34]

On 28 February there are reports of anti-war protests in Rabat.^{[35][better source needed]}

Shia Muslim demonstrators affiliated with the Islamic Movement gathered in Kano to mourn the death of Khamenei. Demonstrators were seen waving Iranian and Palestinian flags while dragging US and Israeli flags on the ground.^[36]

Protests erupted across Pakistan on 1 March 2026, primarily among Shia Muslim communities, in response to the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the joint US-Israeli strikes. The demonstrations condemned the attacks and expressed solidarity with Iran, with chants of "Death to America" and "Death to Israel."^[9][37] Protestors also accused the Pakistani government of siding with the US during the conflict.^[38] The nationwide protests lead to the deaths of 26–35 protestors and 120 injured, including 10–16 at the US Consulate in Karachi, at least 3 at the US embassy in Islamabad and at least 13 in Gilgit-Baltistan.^[39][40][41]

In Karachi, hundreds of protesters attempted to storm the US Consulate, breaching the outer wall and clashing with police and paramilitary forces who used tear gas and live fire. As protests escalated, the Marine Security Guards opened fire, killing at least 10 and upto 16 protestors and injuring over 60 people.^{[42][43][44][39]} Protesters smashed windows, torched a nearby police post, and set vehicles ablaze before being dispersed.^[45]

In Lahore, hundreds gathered outside the US Consulate, but were dispersed by the police after the consulate was attacked.^[9][46] Protests also occurred in Islamabad, authorities blocked roads to the Red Zone and increased security around the US Embassy amid calls for demonstrations with 3 protesters being killed near the embassy.^[38][47][40] Additional rallies were reported in Multan, where Shia participants mourned Khamenei and condemned the strikes, and plans were noted for further actions in Peshawar and other areas.^[48] Protests and demonstrations were also reported in Faisalabad.^[49]

In Gilgit-Baltistan, pro-Iranian protests erupted in Gilgit, on 1 March 2026 following the killing of Khamenei, thousands of Shia demonstrators targeted and set fire to the offices of the United Nations Military Observer Group amid widespread unrest in the region.^[50][51] At least 13 protesters and 1 security officer were killed and 60 were injured in Gilgit, Skardu, and Shigar districts, and other buildings, including a school, were damaged. A three-day curfew was imposed in Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan Army troops were deployed in the region.^[38][49][41]

On March 6, several protest organized by several groups such as Bahaghari, Gabriela, Anakbayan, and the Moro-Christian People’s Alliance was held outside the US embassy in Manila denouncing the war.^[52]

On the anniversary of the March First Movement, civic groups such as the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy held an anti-war demonstration at the US embassy in Seoul.^[35][53] On March 17, around 60 Buddhist monks from the Jogye Order order marched around three kilometres to the embassy to protest the war, with some performing full body prostration.^[54]

On 12 March, the Assembly Against Armament and Militarization organized a human chain against the war in the Middle East in Madrid, which was attended by Podemos leader Ione Belarra. A petition signed by civil society groups and public figures called for nationwide demonstrations on 14 March.^[55]

Demonstrations against the strikes were held in Izmir on 28 February.^[56] On 1 March, members of the Revolutionary Party protested against the war outside the US embassy in Ankara.^[57] Members of the Labour and Democracy Platform in Adana protested against the attacks and called for a closure of US and NATO airbases in Turkey, including the Incirlik base hosted in the city.^[58]

In London, anti-strikes protests took place on 28 February.^[59] London's Metropolitan Police imposed conditions on both the Iranian diaspora rallies and the pro-Palestinian "Hands off Iran" protests in order to prevent potential clashes between the opposing groups.^[60] On 7 March, more than 50,000 people joined protests in London against the strikes, organized by groups that includes the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Stop The War, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, the Muslim Association of Britain, the Palestinian Forum in Britain, and Friends of Al-Aqsa.^[61][62] That same day, four people were arrested in total on 7 March for suspicion of inciting racial hatred, possession of an offensive weapon, racially aggravated public order offences, and violent disorder in relation to an incident the day prior near the Islamic Centre of England.^[61][63] Subsequently, an Iran-linked pro-Palestinian Quds Day march planned for 15 March in London was banned by the Home Secretary to "prevent serious public disorder" by request of the Metropolitan Police.^[64][65]

• 2026 Iranian diaspora protests
• Reactions to the assassination of Ali Khamenei