Around 1,500 demonstrators marched through central London on Saturday, calling on the UK Government to take decisive action against the Iranian regime by closing its embassy in Westminster. The protest, which lasted just under five hours, saw participants gather outside Downing Street before proceeding on foot to the Iranian embassy.
Key Demands and Political Messages
Organizers used speeches at the start of the demonstration to urge the UK Government to proscribe the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. Throughout the march, chants of "IRGC's terrorist, UK put them on the list" echoed through the streets, alongside calls to "shut down the Iranian embassy" and "deport the Iranian diplomats."
Support for Alternative Leadership
Many protesters displayed images of Iran's exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi, with one anonymous woman stating, "We support him to be our next king or alternative to this regime." Another Iranian national, who also wished to remain unnamed, described Pahlavi as the "only alternative" leader, emphasizing, "We are not a dictatorship, we don't want a dictatorship, we just want a democracy."
International Solidarity and Personal Stories
Sam, a 35-year-old participant, explained his attendance was to "support revolution in Iran and the Iranian people who are fighting for their freedom, fighting terrorism." The protest also attracted international supporters, including Romana Yasynovska, a 44-year-old Ukrainian national living in London. She held a sign reading, "I am a Ukrainian mom. I'm here for a world where my daughter and Iran's daughters can share the same right – to be women."
Yasynovska highlighted the shared struggles, saying both Ukrainian and Iranian people "just want to live in our land, raise our children, have our own tradition, choose what way of life we live." She added, "Today I am trying to support them because I know how important that is... Now I'm doing something for people who maybe don't have as much support as we do."
Protest Logistics and Police Measures
The demonstration remained peaceful throughout its duration. Participants were instructed to follow a defined route from near Downing Street, down Pall Mall, and along Piccadilly. In anticipation of the event, the Metropolitan Police imposed conditions on Friday evening to "prevent serious disruption" and "limit disturbance" to local residents.
Notably, some protesters near the front carried a banner with a direct appeal to former US President Donald Trump, reading, "The people of Iran are desperate for President Trump's help. We need military support." This was accompanied by chants of "Trump, Trump, act now, act now," reflecting a segment of the demonstrators' desire for international intervention.
