Iran Loyalists Broaden Nationalism After February War, Embracing Unveiled Women

1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 24

Iran’s pro-government camp is recasting loyalty in broader national terms, publicly welcoming unveiled women and other former dissenters after the February attacks by the United States and Israel.
One widely shared video showed an unidentified young woman saying she had not supported the Islamic Republic before the war but now admired the Revolutionary Guards and Basij for fighting superior military powers.
That messaging reflects a government that sees itself strengthened by surviving the war and entering peace talks from a position of confidence, even as it tries to project unity beyond its hard-core base.
The outreach also aims to blunt deeper strains: Iran remains split after recent antigovernment protests, and the country is sinking further into economic crisis despite the wartime rallying effect.