Demonstrations erupted globally in response to the recent air strikes in Iran, with varying opinions expressed by protestors. In several major cities like London, Sydney, and New York, anti-regime demonstrators showed support for the US-Israeli strikes that targeted top Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. They praised President Donald Trump for ordering the strikes, waving flags of the Shah, Iran’s controversial former king.
Conversely, pro-regime supporters, joined by anti-war protestors, denounced the attacks and cautioned against heightened instability in the region. Pro-regime demonstrators displayed images of the Supreme Leader and protested against American intervention in the Middle East.
In Pakistan’s Karachi, at least nine individuals lost their lives during protests near the US Consulate, where security forces resorted to firing on demonstrators attempting to breach the consulate’s premises.
The death of the Supreme Leader sparked hopes among many protestors for a more democratic Iran, while pro-Iranian demonstrators criticized Israel’s involvement in the strikes. The Supreme Leader passed away at his compound in Tehran, prompting mixed reactions among protestors, with some praising his rule and others celebrating his demise.
The Supreme Leader’s death has been met with divergent views, with pro-regime supporters considering him a martyr, while many in the Iranian diaspora have fled the country due to his oppressive regime.
