Iran Leaders Join Crowds in Tehran to Project Control Amid Attacks

Officials appear publicly to show resilience as U.S.-Israel campaign targets top figures

Apr. 3, 2026 at 1:20pm

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A solitary Iranian government official stands alone in a public square, the scene bathed in warm, cinematic light and deep shadows, conveying a sense of quiet defiance in the face of ongoing conflict.Iran's leadership takes to the streets in a calculated effort to project authority and resilience amid a sustained campaign of targeted attacks.NYC Today

After a month of targeted assassinations, Iran's leadership has adopted a new tactic to demonstrate control - senior officials like the president and foreign minister are walking openly among small crowds of supporters who have gathered in central Tehran. The public outings are part of a calculated effort to project authority and resilience despite the sustained U.S.-Israeli campaign against the Islamic Republic.

Why it matters

The appearances are designed to show Iran's theocratic leadership remains in control, both over the vital Strait of Hormuz and the population, despite the war. The establishment is seeking to raise the 'political and reputational' cost of the strikes and sustain the morale of its core supporters amid acute pressure.

The details

In recent days, Iran's president and foreign minister have separately mixed with groups of several hundred people in central Tehran, posing for selfies, talking to the public, and shaking hands with supporters. Officials say the public outings are intended to demonstrate the Islamic Republic is 'unshaken by strikes and that it remains in control and vigilant' as the war continues.

  • The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began on February 28 with the killing of veteran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior military commanders.
  • Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has not been seen in public since taking over on March 8.

The players

Mojtaba Khamenei

Iran's new Supreme Leader who took over on March 8 after the killing of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Masoud Pezeshkian

The President of Iran who has appeared publicly in central Tehran to project the government's control.

Abbas Araqchi

Iran's Foreign Minister who has also been seen publicly in Tehran, after being removed from Israel's hit list amid mediation efforts to end the war.

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What they’re saying

“The system relies heavily on this base; if its supporters withdraw from public space, its ability to project control and authority weakens significantly.”

— Omid Memarian, Senior Iran analyst at DAWN, a Washington-based think tank

“By being in the middle of large crowds they have protections that would make Israeli-American attacks against them very bloody and generate sympathy worldwide.”

— Hadi Ghaemi, Head of the New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran

What’s next

Talks aimed at ending the war between Iran and the U.S. and Israel have appeared to have petered out, as Tehran brands U.S. peace proposals 'unrealistic'. The conflict is expected to continue, with both sides vowing more aggressive actions.

The takeaway

Iran's leadership is using public displays of officials mingling with crowds as a tactic to project control and resilience in the face of the sustained U.S-Israeli campaign targeting the country. This reflects the establishment's efforts to sustain morale among its core supporters and raise the political cost of the strikes, even as civilian casualties mount.