Summary (tl;dr)

Iranians are currently engaged in two contrasting sets of rallies: substantial government-organized demonstrations within Iran, asserting national unity and defiance against foreign adversaries, and significant diaspora protests across North America and Europe, condemning the Iranian regime's human rights abuses and advocating for democratic change.

Essential Background

Iran has been grappling with intense internal unrest and heightened international tensions. A United Nations fact-finding mission recently reported that Iranian security forces committed crimes against humanity during the 2025-2026 protests, citing widespread killings, torture, and arbitrary detentions, with at least 221 children reportedly among the deceased. These events build upon a 2022 nationwide uprising, alongside ongoing campaigns protesting executions and demanding the release of political prisoners. Economically, Iran faces severe challenges due to a U.S. naval blockade and new sanctions, compounded by an ongoing conflict that began in February with reported attacks by the United States and Israel.

The Full Story

Currently, there are widespread rallies by Iranians both inside and outside the country, driven by contrasting motivations. Within Iran, hundreds of thousands participated in government-organized rallies in Tehran on September 18, 2026, aiming to project national unity and defiance against the United States and Israel amidst ongoing conflict and economic sanctions. These demonstrations, some of the largest since the war began in February, featured participants pledging readiness to take up arms, showcasing military hardware, and chanting slogans such as "Death to America" and "Death to Israel". There are also reports of ongoing nightly pro-state rallies in Tehran, which have become a platform for internal political factions to express grievances and call for stricter enforcement of the hijab law. Separately, various groups within Iran, including telecommunications and social security retirees, have held protests in multiple cities to voice concerns over economic conditions and unmet demands.

Simultaneously, Iranian diaspora communities across North America and Europe have been holding significant rallies, marches, and sit-ins between September 4 and 13, 2026. These events commemorate the fourth anniversary of the 2022 nationwide uprising, condemn the Iranian regime's use of the death penalty, and celebrate the 61st anniversary of the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK). Demonstrators often reject both monarchical and theocratic rule, advocating for a secular republic. Further large-scale demonstrations are planned outside the United Nations in New York on September 22 and 23, 2026, as world leaders convene for the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, with a focus on political executions and repression in Iran.

Why It Matters

These trending rallies highlight the profound divisions within Iran and among the global Iranian community. The government-backed demonstrations inside Iran aim to consolidate domestic support and project an image of strength amid international pressure, ongoing conflict, and a struggling economy. The recruitment of new volunteer forces suggests an effort to bolster national defense and internal security. The internal factionalism observed in some pro-state rallies also points to underlying political tensions within the ruling establishment.

Conversely, the widespread diaspora protests, bolstered by a recent UN report on crimes against humanity, draw international attention to the Iranian regime's repressive actions and empower opposition movements, signaling continued pressure on the Iranian government from both internal and external fronts. The focus on political executions, repression, and economic grievances by various segments of Iranian society indicates significant internal instability that the government is striving to manage amidst external conflicts.

Geographic Location

• Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran (government-organized rallies, nightly pro-state rallies, protests by telecommunications and social security retirees, Cryptoland scam victims protest, Homa Fund retirees protest)
• Tabriz, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran (protests by telecommunications and social security retirees)
• Sanandaj, Kurdistan Province, Iran (telecommunications retirees protest)
• Bijar, Kurdistan Province, Iran (telecommunications retirees protest)
• Kermanshah, Kermanshah Province, Iran (telecommunications retirees protest)
• Isfahan, Isfahan Province, Iran (telecommunications retirees protest, steel industry retirees march)
• Ilam, Ilam Province, Iran (telecommunications retirees protest)
• Hamedan, Hamadan Province, Iran (telecommunications retirees protest)
• Ahvaz, Khuzestan Province, Iran (social security retirees protest)
• Shush, Khuzestan Province, Iran (social security retirees protest)
• Karkheh, Khuzestan Province, Iran (social security retirees protest)
• Haft-Tappeh, Khuzestan Province, Iran (social security retirees protest)
• Dezful, Khuzestan Province, Iran (social security retirees protest)
• Rasht, Gilan Province, Iran (social security retirees protest)
• Qazvin, Qazvin Province, Iran (social security retirees protest)
• Sirjan, Kerman Province, Iran (drivers protest against fuel ration reduction)
• Yadavaran Oil Field, Khuzestan Province, Iran (workers protest non-payment of benefits)
• Boroujerd, Lorestan Province, Iran (Saman Kashi Boroujerd factory workers protest)
• Paris, Île-de-France, France (Iranian Resistance supporters marched, book table and photo exhibition)
• Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany (PMOI/MEK supporters rally and photo exhibition)
• Berlin, Berlin State, Germany (sit-in outside Iranian embassy)
• Copenhagen, Capital Region, Denmark (PMOI supporters commemorative gathering)
• Gothenburg, Västra Götaland County, Sweden (PMOI/MEK supporters rally)
• Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza, New York City, New York, United States (Iranian Americans to rally outside UN)