Anti-Regime Chants Erupt Across Iran After Massive Overseas Rallies

by | Feb 16, 2026 | News

Fresh anti-government chants were reported across parts of Iran Sunday night, as residents shouted slogans from balconies and apartment windows in Tehran and other cities.

Videos circulating on social media showed residents in eastern Tehran’s Ekbatan district chanting “Death to Khamenei” and “Death to the Islamic Republic.” The demonstrations followed large opposition rallies held abroad, including a gathering in Munich attended by an estimated 250,000 people.

The rally was addressed by exiled opposition figure Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s former shah. Pro-monarchy demonstrations were also held in Los Angeles and Toronto, with organizers claiming over a million participants worldwide.

Inside Iran, street protests have largely subsided following a severe crackdown in early January. Rights groups allege thousands were killed during the January 8–9 unrest, though figures vary widely. A US-based monitoring group reported more than 7,000 deaths and over 53,000 arrests, while opposition sources claim far higher numbers. Iran’s government reported 3,117 deaths.

Iran International broadcast footage of chants in multiple cities, including Shiraz and Arak. Some protesters were filmed during the January crackdown for Israeli Channel 12, showing burning buildings, security forces firing into crowds, and rows of bodies laid out in streets.

The renewed chants come ahead of scheduled US-Iran nuclear talks in Geneva, seen as critical in determining whether further military escalation could occur.

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