People Gather Across the World to Protest Iranian Regime

Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in protests across the globe yesterday, advocating for a change in the authoritarian Iranian regime tightening their grip over the Middle Eastern nation.

Some of the most significant protests took place in Munich, Germany, where over 250,000 people took part in demonstrations against Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's ongoing regime. People carried signs with images of exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, a prominent opposition figure against Khamenei, alongside an Iranian flag with a lion and a sun at the center– a symbol used to represent the Shah of Iran who was overthrown in 1979. Others carried hats with the labels "Make Iran Great Again," an adaptation of US President Donald Trump's slogan "Make America Great Again."

The protests took place outside the Munich Security Conference, where many world leaders are currently meeting to discuss certain topics regarding the prevention of conflict and the strengthening of allyships like the US-EU partnership.

Pahlavi called for citizens across the globe to protest on February 14, motivating hundreds of thousands to take to the streets for a "Global Day of Action" in cities like Melbourne, Tokyo, Athens, Los Angeles, Toronto, and London, in addition to the demonstrations in Munich.

At least 350,000 protesters joined the demonstrations in Toronto, and thousands more took to the streets of Los Angeles, which maintains the world's largest Iranian population outside of Iran.

The backlash comes just one month after a series of brutal killings during a crackdown on Khamenei's opposition in January. Over 7,000 fatalities were confirmed, and over 10,000 others were arrested after massive demonstrations protesting Khamenei's regime. Those taken into custody were set to face the death penalty until international intervention, putting further pressure on Khamenei.

Now, the US appears to be preparing for a potential conflict with Iran, as Khamenei is refusing to step down, but US President Donald Trump is attempting to work out a nuclear deal with the Middle Eastern nations before possible escalation of tensions. Nuclear talks will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday, but Trump has released statements encouraging protesters to keep going as negotiations continue.

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Image credit to EPA