The joint US-Israeli strikes, which occurred on Saturday and Sunday, targeted Iranian leadership, resulting in the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei among others. Iran retaliated by launching strikes on Israel, Qatar, Bahrain, and the UAE. The Trump administration has recently oscillated between claiming the war is about to end and threatening escalation, with sources indicating the US Pentagon is preparing to deploy ground troops.
Diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflict are underway, with foreign ministers from Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan meeting on Sunday for talks on ending the Iran war, though none of the warring parties will be present. In Scotland, Stop the War Scotland criticized First Minister John Swinney for failing to condemn the US and Israeli aggression and instead denouncing Iran.
In Iran, reactions to the ceasefire announcement have been mixed. Video from Tehran shows crowds gathering in small groups, some waving Iranian flags, with mixed feelings and heated discussions in Enghelab Square. Footage captured by pro-regime figure Majid Nouri shows disagreements among people in Tehran after the ceasefire announcement, with debates starting overnight and continuing into Wednesday morning. Pro-government demonstrators in Tehran chanted slogans against America, Israel, and compromisers and burned US and Israeli flags. In other parts of Tehran, there were a few cautious celebrations in the dark early morning hours on Wednesday. At least 1,900 people have been killed in Iran. Abroad, a demonstration was held outside the US embassy in Stockholm on Saturday where supporters of exiled prince Reza Pahlavi advocated for regime change in Iran. Exiled Iranians at that demonstration hope that the agreement being negotiated between the US and Iran will fall apart or not hold.
Anti-war protests have grown in Israel, with weekly demonstrations against Israel's US-supported war on Iran and against Israel's military actions in Lebanon occurring at several locations in March, though with small numbers of participants. Over the weekend, the number of demonstrators increased, with thousands of people in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Jerusalem taking to the streets. Hundreds of Israelis demonstrated in Tel Aviv on Saturday against Israel's war and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The proportion of Israeli opponents to the Iran war has increased since it began four weeks ago, although general support remains high, with 78% of Jewish Israelis supporting the war and 19% of the Arab Israeli minority supporting it. Police and protesters clashed in Tel Aviv, with at least 13 people arrested, and police arrested up to 20 people around the country.
Internationally, thousands of protesters will descend on central London this weekend for several demonstrations linked to the ongoing war in Iran, with the biggest event being a Stop the War demonstration against US and Israeli strikes. The Met has imposed strict conditions on the demonstrations in London, banning amplified sound equipment and setting assembly finish times. In Glasgow, a demonstration took place at the Buchanan Street Steps, with a mixture of US, Israeli, and Iranian flags and signs reading 'Make Iran Great Again'. A group marched to the US Consulate in Edinburgh to demonstrate against the US and Israel's strikes against Iran. Protesters in Greece have been seen sporting a banner featuring Hamas, Hezbollah, and Houthis members, with tens of thousands of demonstrators gathering across the country on Saturday.
The conflict has expanded regionally, with the Iran-supported Houthi movement in Yemen confirming on Saturday morning that it has entered the war and has directed missile and drone attacks against Israel over the weekend.
In the United States, a furious crowd of protesters gathered as Donald Trump prepared to address a Turning Point USA event on Friday in Phoenix, with demonstrators chanting and harassing attendees. Protesters screamed and made gestures at President Trump’s motorcade as he pulled into Dream City Church in Phoenix.