Iran Urges Civilians to Guard Sites Before US Ceasefire

In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing conflict between Iran, the United States, and Israel, Iranian officials on April 7, 2026, urged civilians, including young people and children, to form human chains around power plants and bridges across the country. The mobilization came hours before a U.S.-imposed deadline of 8 p.m. Eastern Time for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil shipments, or face further strikes on key infrastructure.

Alireza Rahimi, secretary of Iran's Supreme Council of Youth and Adolescents, issued the call in a video message broadcast on state television. He encouraged university students, artists, athletes, and others to gather at 2 p.m. local time to protect "national assets" like power plants, framing the action as a demonstration of solidarity against what he described as threats from the United States and Israel. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian echoed the sentiment on social media, stating that more than 14 million Iranians had registered to defend the country and expressing his own readiness to sacrifice his life if needed.

Videos circulating online showed crowds linking arms at sites including the Kazeroun power...