Hundreds of thousands attend Iran's biggest government-organized rally since the war began

Hundreds of thousands of Iranians rallied Friday in downtown Tehran in what the government described as the biggest mass demonstration since U.S. and Israeli attacks in February. In a show of defiance after months of war, participants pledged readiness to receive limited military training, labeled “Janfaday-e Iran.” The rally unfolded amid worsening economic conditions, including a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports and new U.S. sanctions. State media said more than 300,000 people were on the streets early Friday, while a Guard commander claimed over 600,000 registered and expected over 1 million for training. Iran also displayed military hardware and claimed it attacked a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz.