Tehran TimesIran-leaningJun 22, 2026, 4:25 PM

'The street belongs to the people'

Since February 28, following the initiation of a second unprovoked war against Iran by the U.S. and Israel, nightly rallies by the Iranian people have persisted continuously for over 100 days. This sustained public mobilization reflects a significant and unprecedented social phenomenon. To gain deeper insight into the roots and implications of these ongoing demonstrations, the Tehran Times conducted an interview with Kurosh Aliyani, an esteemed author and cultural expert. Aliyani’s perspectives help shed light on the motivations and resilience of the Iranian populace amid heightened geopolitical tensions, illustrating how these protests symbolize a powerful assertion of the people’s agency and sovereignty. The prolonged nature of the rallies underscores the profound impact of foreign aggression on Iran’s civil society, marking a critical moment in the country’s contemporary history where the street has unmistakably become a domain of popular expression and resistance.

View original

Article body

Nightly rallies by the Iranian people, which began shortly after the U.S. and Israel launched their second unprovoked war against Iran on February 28, have continued unabated for over 100 days. To understand this unprecedented phenomenon, the Tehran Times sat down with author and cultural expert Kurosh Aliyani.