Protests Erupt Globally Over US-Israel Strikes in Iran

Demonstrators in over 70 US cities and abroad condemn attacks, warn of broader regional conflict

Mar. 3, 2026 at 1:15am

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Protesters took to the streets in more than 70 U.S. cities and in several cities in other parts of the world to oppose the joint U.S.-Israel strikes in Iran on Saturday. A coalition of anti-war and pro-Palestinian groups staged dozens of protests across the country as part of a national day of action, hours after the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on a range of targets in Iran.

Why it matters

The protests highlight growing concerns about the potential for the U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran to escalate into a broader regional conflict, with experts warning that a new war in Iran could destabilize neighboring countries like Pakistan. The demonstrations also reflect longstanding tensions between the U.S. and anti-war, pro-Palestinian activists who oppose American military interventions in the Middle East.

The details

Protesters in cities like New York, Boston, Los Angeles and Washington D.C. carried signs and chanted slogans condemning the attacks as "unprovoked" and "illegal." In Times Square, organizer Etan Mabourakh of the National Iranian American Council expressed concern that some Iranian expatriates desperate for change may support the bombing campaign, even as he and other activists who want to help Iranians chart their own path feel "drowned out by the drums of war." Protests were also held in London, Tehran, and across Pakistan, where Shiite Muslims marched in support of Iran, their neighbor to the west.

  • The U.S. and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran on Saturday.
  • Protesters took to the streets in over 70 U.S. cities and abroad on the same day as the attacks.

The players

ANSWER

A coalition of anti-war and pro-Palestinian groups that staged dozens of protests across the U.S. as part of a national day of action.

Etan Mabourakh

An organizer with the National Iranian American Council who expressed concern that some Iranian expatriates may support the bombing campaign, even as he and other activists feel "drowned out by the drums of war."

National Iranian American Council

An organization that Etan Mabourakh represents as an organizer.

Baloch Liberation Army

A separatist group in Pakistan that experts warn could be emboldened by a broader regional war involving Iran.

Michael Kugelman

A senior fellow at the Atlantic Council who noted that a "new war in Iran could badly disadvantage Pakistan."

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What they’re saying

“Trump's unprovoked, illegal attack on Iran is an act of war that threatens to cause unthinkable death and destruction. But the people of this country reject another endless war and will take to the streets now and make our voices heard.”

— ANSWER

“My entire life, as a Jewish American, I have watched our nation engage in endless wars with no plan for exit or improvement of the human rights situation for the people in those countries.”

— Etan Mabourakh, Organizer, National Iranian American Council

“When Iran is attacked, we feel our faith, our identity and our very existence are being targeted.”

— Asghar Jaffer, Shiite student activist

What’s next

Experts warn that a broader regional war involving Iran could be catastrophic for Pakistan's stability, potentially emboldening separatist groups like the Baloch Liberation Army and forcing the Pakistani military to fight on two border fronts.

The takeaway

The protests reflect the deep divisions and concerns over the U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran, which threaten to spark a broader regional conflict with unpredictable consequences. The demonstrations highlight the challenges facing the Biden administration as it navigates the complex geopolitics of the Middle East.