Authorities in Iran organised mass public weddings in Tehran for couples who signed up for a state-backed “self-sacrifice” campaign declaring readiness to give their lives in the conflict involving the United States and Israel.
The ceremonies, held late Monday across several major public squares in the Iranian capital, were widely broadcast on state television as part of efforts to project national unity and wartime morale amid continuing tensions in the region.
According to Iranian media reports, more than 100 couples participated in one ceremony alone at Tehran’s sprawling Imam Hossein Square.
Couples Joined ‘Self-Sacrifice’ Scheme
The newlyweds had reportedly enrolled in a government-backed initiative known in Persian as “janfada,” or “self-sacrifice,” under which participants pledge to support the country during wartime, including by risking their own lives if required.
Iranian media said the initiative included symbolic acts such as volunteering to form human shields around critical infrastructure sites like power stations.
The ceremonies come amid heightened tensions following months of conflict and repeated warnings from Donald Trump about possible renewed military action against Iran despite an uneasy ceasefire.
Military Jeeps, Balloons And Wartime Messaging
Images released by AFP and Iranian outlets showed couples arriving at the wedding venue in military jeeps equipped with mounted machine guns.
The ceremonies were officiated by clerics on decorated stages featuring balloons, flowers and large portraits of Mojtaba Khamenei, who recently assumed leadership after the death of his father, former supreme leader Ali Khamenei during the conflict.
Crowds gathered around the square carrying roses and cheering for the newly married couples as state media framed the events as symbols of resilience and patriotism.
‘Young People Also Have The Right To Marry’
Several participants spoke to Iranian media during the ceremonies.
“Certainly, the country is at war, but young people also have the right to marry,” one bride dressed in a white Islamic wedding gown said in footage carried by the Mehr news agency.
Another groom said the wedding date held religious significance because it coincided with the anniversary of the marriage of Imam Ali and Fatima, two highly revered figures in Shia Islam.
“We received their blessings. Furthermore, we came to offer our best wishes to the people in the streets,” he said.
Millions Reportedly Signed Up
Iranian authorities claim that millions of citizens have enrolled in the “self-sacrifice” programme since the conflict intensified.
The reported list of participants includes senior political leaders such as parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Since the outbreak of war earlier this year, Iranian authorities have frequently organised large-scale rallies and public events aimed at demonstrating public mobilisation and support for the government.
The mass weddings are the latest in a series of highly symbolic events designed to reinforce unity and national morale during the ongoing crisis.