Crowds of pro-government demonstrators took to the streets of Tehran on Thursday, waving Iranian flags and chanting in support of the regime following the announcement of a conditional ceasefire between the United States and Iran.
The ceasefire, which took effect immediately, was mediated by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and includes a key provision: Iran will allow safe passage for commercial ships through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the US halting its military attacks.
The agreement comes after more than a month of escalating hostilities, which began with joint US-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets. Iran responded with a series of attacks on locations throughout the Gulf region, heightening tensions and threatening global shipping lanes.
Thursday's gathering in the capital represented a show of force by government loyalists, who celebrated what state media has framed as a diplomatic achievement. The two-week ceasefire is seen as a fragile pause in a conflict that has drawn in regional powers and impacted energy markets worldwide.