In the days leading up to the event, posters had been installed across Tehran bearing the images of recent martyrs under the slogan “Ba khoonat barqararim” (“We remain standing by your blood”). On social media, hashtags like and trended widely, with users sharing photos and memories of loved ones lost in defense of the country.
The Broader Context: Iran’s Geopolitical Moment
This year’s ceremony took on added significance due to the intensifying regional tensions and Iran’s increasingly assertive foreign policy. The killings of Afshardi and Hajizadeh in Israeli strikes were widely interpreted as escalatory acts in the shadow war between Tehran and Tel Aviv. Yet the Islamic Republic’s decision to publicly celebrate their legacy signaled defiance rather than retreat.
The Pezhakian administration, which came into power on promises of moderation and transparency, has found itself navigating a complex environment where geopolitical pressures increasingly overlap with domestic demands. By participating in this commemorative event, the President aimed to reaffirm that Iran’s foundational values—resistance, sovereignty, and justice—remain unshaken.