TEHRAN — Hundreds of Iranian demonstrators gathered in Tehran's central squares Tuesday to burn large effigies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump during a memorial rally for naval personnel killed in recent maritime incidents.

The protest, organized by hardline political groups and attended by government supporters, saw crowds chanting anti-Israeli and anti-American slogans while setting fire to the symbolic figures. Iranian state television broadcast footage showing the burning effigies as speakers addressed the crowd through loudspeakers, condemning what they termed Western aggression in regional waters.

Regional security analyst Reza Marandi from Tehran University described the demonstration as part of Iran's broader strategy to mobilize domestic support. "These public displays serve multiple purposes for Iranian leadership, both rallying the base and signaling resolve to international observers," Marandi explained. The timing coincides with heightened naval tensions in the Persian Gulf, where several incidents involving Iranian vessels have occurred in recent weeks.

Former Israeli intelligence officer Sarah Goldstein, now at the Institute for National Security Studies, noted the symbolic importance of targeting both leaders simultaneously. "Iran's messaging deliberately links Israeli and American policies, attempting to frame regional conflicts as coordinated Western intervention," Goldstein said. The rally attracted approximately 2,000 participants according to local media reports, with government officials present but not delivering formal speeches.