Pro-monarchy and pro-democracy protesters gather across Europe in support of Iran
Supporters of the monarchy and democracy rally across Europe for Iran
Flags bearing the lion emblem of pre-revolutionary Iran flapped in European cities as demonstrators gathered on Saturday to show solidarity with the Iranian populace amid escalating tensions with the United States and Israel. The protests spanned multiple locations, including Berlin, Stockholm, and Paris, with participants expressing a range of perspectives on Iran’s leadership.
In London, crowds split between opposing the war and backing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The “Hands Off Iran” march attracted between 5,000 and 6,000 attendees, as reported by the Metropolitan Police, who chanted “stop the bombing now, now, now.” Meanwhile, in Paris, two distinct gatherings emerged: one advocating for the son of the late shah to lead a transition, and another rejecting that idea.
“I support Pahlavi, who is demanding a revolution,” said Masoud Ghanaatian, a 35-year-old student at a demonstration in southern Paris. Participants waved US, Israeli, and pre-revolutionary Iran flags while carrying photos of the late shah’s son. “He’s a democrat. He can guide a shift and promises fair elections.”
Stockholm saw hundreds of supporters of the exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi, who is the son of Iran’s last shah, displaying images of both him and his late father. In Amsterdam, marchers lined a canal, holding Israeli, American, and pre-revolutionary Iran flags, and urged the government to welcome Pahlavi and shut down the Iranian embassy.
Shortly after dawn in Britain, anti-war protesters gathered at an air force base in Fairford, southwest England, waving signs like “Hands off Iran,” “Peace,” and “Yanks go home.” US President Donald Trump pledged to aid Iran’s economic recovery if the country installs a leader deemed “acceptable” by him. Iran’s UN ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, countered, emphasizing that the US would not influence the selection of Khamenei’s successor.
“The choice of Iran’s leadership will follow our constitutional process and reflect the people’s will, free from foreign interference,” Iravani added, highlighting the nation’s commitment to self-determination.
