Large crowds have gathered in cities across Iran to participate in annual rallies for ‘Student Day,’ a national occasion traditionally focused on rejecting what participants describe as US-led global imperialism. The events on Tuesday, November 4th, saw people from all walks of life joining demonstrations in the capital, Tehran, and other cities nationwide.
Known in Iran as Aban 13th, the date holds deep historical significance. It formally commemorates the events of November 4, 1979, when university students took over the United States embassy in Tehran. The students’ action was a direct protest against Washington granting asylum to Iran’s deposed monarch, Mohammad-Reza Shah, whose government was toppled by the Islamic Revolution just months earlier.
The embassy compound, subsequently referred to in Iran as the “Den of Espionage,” became a powerful symbol. Since then, the date has been enshrined in the national calendar as an occasion to voice opposition to perceived US interference and foreign intervention.
This year’s demonstrations, however, were marked by a profound and immediate sense of grievance, making them particularly significant. The rallies are the first major national observance since the country endured a 12-day conflict over the summer, described as a ‘US-Israeli war of aggression’.
That war, which began on June 13, inflicted extensive damage and a heavy human toll. During the 12-day offensive, Israeli forces reportedly bombed residential areas, critical infrastructure, and nuclear facilities. Reports from the conflict stated that the campaign resulted in the deaths of more than 1,000 people.
The period also saw the targeted assassinations of several top Iranian military commanders and key scientists, attacks which have further galvanized national sentiment leading up to the November 4th observance.
In the capital, the main demonstration began early in the day. Demonstrators marched from the central, iconic Palestine Square, with the procession moving through the city toward the former US embassy compound, the symbolic center of the day’s events.
Senior state and military officials were observed marching alongside citizens. The widespread domestic and international interest in the event was underscored by a massive media presence, with an estimated 4,500 journalists registered to cover the rallies.
While Student Day has long been a key date for expressing national identity and sovereignty, the 2025 observance is inescapably framed by the fresh wounds of the recent conflict. The atmosphere at the rallies amplified the anti-imperialist message for the thousands in attendance, who voiced their rejection of foreign aggression.
