TEHRAN – The Iranian score filled Tehran Engelab Square on Sunday evening, hours after the US dropped a bomb on Iranian nuclear site.
“Death to America!” people chanted, their voices filling the square. Others demanded that Iran fight back violently. One clear message rose over and over again on the noise: “Turn America out of the region!”
“They bomb us, and then they brag about it,” said the man in the crowd, waving the Iranian flag. “We need an answer. We’ll drive them out.”
The American B-2 bombers entered Iranian airspace early on Sunday and bombed Iranian nuclear facilities in Natanz, Esfahan and Fordau. The attack came after Israel carried out something similar ten days ago. Both attacks were believed to have failed to demolish Iran’s nuclear facilities. Although the US strikes did not cause casualties, early Israelis were still ongoing against Iran’s civil infrastructure, resulting in more than 400 deaths and 2000 injuries.
Tehran protesters pointed to the presence of heavy US troops nearby. “They have 19 bases here in West Asia,” one woman said. “Sitting at our border, 40,000 soldiers and workers. They need to go home.”
When President Masoud Pezeshkian appeared, the protest took an unexpected turn. He went into the crowd without much safety and brought people closer. He listened as the civilians cried outrage about the bombing. His presence gave the crowd a boost, and he later spoke briefly, reflecting his call for resistance. He later promised a more complete response.
“They talk about peace while dropping bombs,” an older man said, looking near the square as the president walked through the people. “Is he here? That means he gets it. America broke that word. They have to leave.”
It is not yet clear how Iran will respond to American invasions. However, since the outbreak of war on June 13th, it has baffled the occupied territory during its grace period. Iranians have previously warned that there is no red line when responding to potential US attacks.