Pezeshkian attended the exercise on Friday morning, where he praised the participants for their broad presence and said their gathering demonstrated the deep bond between the Iranian people and their homeland.
The president said the participation of people from various sections of society is a clear symbol of “the deep bond between the nation and Iran” and their collective resolve to protect the country’s dignity, independence, territorial integrity and strength.
He also thanked the people for their “responsible and informed” participation in the exercise.
Pezeshkian hailed the people’s turnout in the event as an expression of national responsibility and attachment to their homeland. He stressed that “Iran belongs to all Iranians” and said preserving the country’s dignity and pride requires “unity, solidarity and broad public participation.”
The massive “Janfada-ye Iran” (Devoted to Iran) rally began in Tehran on Friday morning, drawing hundreds of thousands of people, including women, young people and other sections of the public, while simultaneous gatherings were held across the country.
In Tehran, a 313,000-strong parade stretched from Imam Hussein Square to Enqelab Square, alongside a display of Iranian drones and the participation of veterans of the Sacred Defense wars. Women and Iranian youth also took part in separate sections, while some participants wore burial shrouds as a symbol of their readiness to sacrifice themselves in defense of Iran.
According to General Hassan-Zadeh, commander of the Greater Tehran Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, around 500,000 people had registered to participate in the event in Tehran. The figure 313 has particular significance in Islamic tradition, being associated with the Battle of Badr in 624 CE, the first major battle of the early Muslim community. The “Devoted to Iran” campaign began on March 29 following the US-Israeli aggression against Iran and has since expanded into a nationwide mobilization, with organizers saying more than 32 million people have participated.