Blast Rocks Tehran During Quds Day Rally as Regional Tensions Escalate
Demonstrators attend the annual anti-Israeli Quds Day, or Jerusalem Day, rally in Tehran, Iran, March 13, 2026. A powerful explosion struck central Tehran during mass Quds Day demonstrations, leaving at least one person dead and heightening tensions amid ongoing U.S.–Israeli strikes. Thousands had gathered for the annual rally when the blast erupted near Ferdowsi Square, sending smoke billowing over the crowd and prompting widespread panic. A large explosion tore through a crowded demonstration in Tehran on Friday as thousands participated in the annual Quds Day march. Iranian state media reported that the blast occurred near Ferdowsi Square, close to Tehran University, an area that had become a focal point for the day’s rallies. Video from the scene showed plumes of gray smoke rising as panicked demonstrators chanted slogans and scrambled for safety. Authorities confirmed that at least one woman was killed after being struc...
