Thousands Rally in Toronto to Support Iran Protests and Pressure Governments

Tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of downtown Toronto on Sunday to show solidarity with ongoing anti-government protests in Iran, drawing one of the largest Iran-related demonstrations in the city’s recent history. Participants marched and rallied through central intersections — including Yonge-Dundas Square — demanding international pressure on the Iranian regime and expressing support for freedom and human rights for people inside Iran.

Organisers said the protest was motivated by Iran’s escalating political crackdown and widespread violence against demonstrators in cities across the country. Since late December 2025, protests have spread inside Iran over rising costs, political repression and economic hardship, with international news reports documenting thousands of deaths and widespread arrests. Many Iranian-Canadians and supporters in Toronto said they organised the rally to amplify voices from inside Iran who cannot freely communicate due to internet blackouts and government surveillance.

Crowds at the demonstration carried flags and signs calling for change and freedom, while speakers at the gathering urged Western governments — including Canada — to increase diplomatic pressure on Tehran and take stronger stands against human rights abuses. Some participants also called for economic, political and social support for opposition movements, and there was heightened discussion among attendees about how diaspora communities can sustain attention on Iran’s crisis.

The rally in Toronto was one of several held globally in support of Iranian protesters, reflecting a continued mobilisation of the Iranian diaspora in cities across North America, Europe, Australia and beyond. Similar demonstrations have taken place in major cities as expatriate communities come together to raise awareness and call for concrete action from foreign governments and international organisations.

Authorities in Toronto monitored the march, which proceeded largely peacefully, and no major disruptions were reported as of late Sunday evening. Organisers emphasised that the protest was intended as a peaceful expression of solidarity and a means to ensure that voices from inside Iran — where communication remains restricted — are heard on the world stage.