Massive Rally in Munich Calls for Regime Change in Iran

On February 14, 2026, around 200,000 people assembled in Munich, Germany, to protest against Iran's government. The demonstration was part of a "global day of action" initiated by exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, urging heightened international pressure on Tehran.

Participants chanted slogans advocating for regime change and displayed pre-1979 Iranian flags featuring the lion and sun emblem. Pahlavi addressed the crowd, warning of further deaths in Iran if democratic nations remain passive. He stated that the survival of Iran's current government "sends a clear signal to every bully: kill enough people and you stay in power."

The Munich rally coincided with an international security conference in the city and was mirrored by demonstrations in Los Angeles and Toronto. These events followed deadly protests in Iran the previous month, where the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported at least 7,005 deaths, including 214 government forces. Iran's government reported a lower figure of 3,117 fatalities. The actual death toll remains uncertain due to communication restrictions within Iran.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested that regime change in Iran "would be the best thing that could happen," adding to the international pressure on Tehran amid ongoing unrest and nuclear tensions.