Thousands of Iranians rally in biggest show of defiance since war began…

Hundreds of thousands of Iranians rallied on Friday in a government-organized show of defiance, pledging their readiness to take up arms in the country’s biggest such demonstration since the US and Israel attacked in February, AP reports.

Tehran’s Guard chief, Gen. Hassan Hassanzadeh, told state broadcaster that over 600,000 people had registered for the “Janfaday-e Iran” campaign, with over 1 million expected to receive military training as an added layer of security alongside the Revolutionary Guard and Basij militia.

New Basij head Hossein Taeb declared the volunteers would be ready for “full-fledged defense,” as some participants trampled US and Israeli flags and chanted “Death to America.”

Iran also claimed a fresh attack on a Togo-flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, further tightening pressure on Gulf shipping routes already down nearly 90 percent since the war began.

The show of force came as Iran’s economy strains under a US naval blockade and fresh sanctions, with analysts noting the mobilization could also strengthen hardliners’ hand against future dissent, given the deadly crackdown that followed pre-war protests in January.