Iranians in Raleigh hold car rally to urge US action

Protesters call for end to Iranian regime during demonstration in North Carolina capital

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Dozens of Iranian-Americans and their supporters gathered in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina on Saturday for a car rally to urge the United States government to take stronger action against the Iranian regime. The protesters, many of whom had fled the country, waved Iranian flags and held signs condemning the government in Tehran as they drove through the city's streets.

Why it matters

The rally reflects growing calls from the Iranian diaspora in the US for the Biden administration to take a tougher stance against the Iranian government, which has faced widespread protests and unrest within the country over the past year.

The details

Organizers said the Raleigh car rally was part of a nationwide series of demonstrations taking place in major US cities. Protesters honked their car horns, waved flags, and chanted slogans like "Death to the dictator" as they drove through downtown Raleigh. Several speakers addressed the crowd, urging the US to provide more support for Iranian opposition groups and impose harsher sanctions on the regime.

  • The car rally took place on Saturday, February 22, 2026 in downtown Raleigh.

The players

Iranian-Americans

Iranian expatriates and their supporters who gathered in Raleigh to protest the Iranian government.

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What they’re saying

“The Iranian people deserve freedom and democracy. We call on the US government to take stronger action against the regime in Tehran.”

— Maryam Rajavi, Spokesperson for the rally organizers

What’s next

Organizers say they plan to hold similar car rallies in other major US cities in the coming weeks to keep up the pressure on the Biden administration.

The takeaway

The Raleigh car rally is the latest sign of the Iranian diaspora's growing activism in the US, as they seek to influence American foreign policy toward their home country amid ongoing unrest and a crackdown by the regime.