TEHRAN — Thousands of Iranian protesters filled Azadi Square Wednesday evening, setting fire to large effigies depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump in a dramatic display of anti-Western sentiment.

The state-sanctioned demonstration marked the second anniversary of the sinking of an Iranian naval vessel in the Persian Gulf, which Tehran attributes to Israeli covert operations. Protesters chanted "Death to Israel" and "Death to America" while Revolutionary Guard officials delivered fiery speeches from a raised platform overlooking the crowd.

"This symbolic act represents the Iranian people's rejection of Zionist aggression and American imperialism," said Mohammad Reza Naghdi, a senior Revolutionary Guard commander who addressed the gathering. The effigies, constructed from straw and cloth, were doused in gasoline before being ignited to thunderous applause from the assembled crowd.

Dr. Saeed Laylaz, a Tehran-based political analyst, described the rally as part of Iran's broader strategy to maintain domestic unity amid economic pressures. "These demonstrations serve multiple purposes for the regime — they channel public frustration toward external enemies while reinforcing Iran's resistance narrative," Laylaz explained. The protest comes as regional tensions remain elevated following recent Israeli strikes on Iranian proxy forces in Syria.