Thousands of Iranians and their supporters took to the streets in major cities across the globe this past weekend, united in their calls for regime change in Tehran. From Munich to Los Angeles, protesters waved flags, chanted slogans, and pleaded with the international community to take action against the Iranian government's violent crackdown on dissent.
What this really means is that the Iranian people, emboldened by last month's nationwide protests that saw security forces kill thousands, are now taking their fight for freedom to the global stage. As The New York Times reports, the protests were organized by Iran's exiled crown prince, Reza Pahlavi, who has been trying to position himself as a leader of the opposition.
A 'Global Day of Action'
Pahlavi called the weekend demonstrations a "global day of action" in solidarity with Iranians risking their lives to demand the overthrow of the Islamic Republic. The largest rally took place in Munich, Germany, where police estimated around 250,000 people gathered - making it the largest anti-regime protest ever held in Europe.
Protesters in Munich, Los Angeles, and Toronto chanted slogans like "Change, change, regime change" and waved the green, white, and red flag that was used in Iran before the 1979 revolution. Many also donned "Make Iran Great Again" hats, mimicking the MAGA branding of former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Calls for International Intervention
In an impassioned speech at the Munich Security Conference, Pahlavi urged world leaders to stand with the Iranian people, warning of more deaths if "democracies stand by and watch." He added that the survival of Iran's government "sends a clear signal to every bully: kill enough people and you stay in power."
Pahlavi's pleas for international intervention echo the sentiments of many protesters, who believe that decisive action from the U.S. and its allies is the only way to topple the theocratic regime in Tehran. As Al Jazeera reports, Trump has already said that "regime change" in Iran would be the "best thing that could happen."
The bigger picture here is that the Iranian government is facing an unprecedented challenge to its authority, both at home and abroad. With the economy in shambles and security forces struggling to contain popular unrest, the regime's grip on power appears increasingly tenuous. Whether the international community heeds the protesters' calls for action remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the people of Iran are no longer willing to suffer under the yoke of their oppressors.