People’s ‘smart presence’ at Monday rallies cut off foreigners’ interfering hands: Qalibaf

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has praised the million-strong turnout of people at January 12 rallies across the country, saying their “smart presence” thwarted foreign interference and condemned the terrorist actions of rioters.

Speaking briefly at the start of the parliament’s open session on Tuesday, Qalibaf said he was obligated to thank the Iranian nation for their massive nationwide participation the previous day, which he said marked “Day of God.”

He said that there was no doubt the country’s history would record the day as a historic one in its honorable pages.

Iranians from different walks of life took part in nationwide rallies on Monday to denounce recent foreign-backed riots, demonstrating their unwavering support for the Islamic Republic.

The rallies in most provinces, including Tehran, began at 2:00 p.m. local time and continued till 5:00 pm. However, in some other provinces, the rallies started earlier, at 9:00 am and 11:00 am.

Officials described the nationwide demonstrations as irrefutable evidence of unity and solidarity in the face of the enemy’s plots to sow chaos and division through mercenaries and terrorists. 

Qalibaf said that January 12, 2026, was a day when the Iranian people, “with divine guidance,” entered the scene “smartly and responsibly” despite having legitimate criticisms.

The people’s presence, he said, put an end to the interference of “the foreigners’ hands,” which he said had appeared in the arena “in a very ugly and repulsive manner.”

Expressing appreciation and gratitude to the Iranian people was a duty, the parliament speaker said, adding that the “glorious day” was realized by God’s grace and the efforts of the people.

He described this as a success for all officials to have “such a brave, insightful nation present in the field.”

Qalibaf further said officials “bow in humility” before a courageous and aware nation and consider themselves committed to using “all our strength and capacity, day and night,” to address economic problems and the people’s rightful livelihood demands.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei also hailed the nationwide rallies, saying the mass turnout “made history” and foiled the enemies’ plot to destabilize the country through their domestic agents.

“Noble Iranian nation, today you accomplished a great task and marked a historic day. These massive gatherings, filled with firm resolve, foiled the plot of foreign enemies that was to be carried out by domestic mercenaries,” Ayatollah Khamenei said in a message on Monday evening.

Some shopkeepers last month staged peaceful protests in different cities over economic issues, but the demonstrations were steered toward violence after public statements by US and Israeli regime figures — amplified by Israeli-linked Persian-language outlets — encouraged vandalism and disorder.

Authorities have acknowledged the legitimacy of economic grievances and vowed to address them, while denouncing foreign-backed elements for exploiting people’s livelihood concerns, which are directly linked to unilateral US sanctions targeting Iran’s central bank and oil exports.

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