Iranian gov’t rallies public to take up military training

Hundreds of thousands of Iranians rally in a government-organised show of

defiance and pledge their readiness to take up arms in the biggest demonstration of its kind since the country's war with the US in February.

Crowds marched through downtown Tehran in combat uniform, carrying flags, as onlookers cheered. Some participants trampled flags of the US and Israel. Others chanted "Death to America" and "Death to Israel."

For days, state media have encouraged Iranians to join the campaign, saying training with assault rifles would begin soon. The volunteers would be an additional layer of security to the powerful Revolutionary Guard paramilitary and its all-volunteer arm, the Basij.

Tehran's Guard chief, General Hassan Hassanzadeh, told the state broadcaster more than 600,000 people had registered to participate, with more than a million expected to take part in the limited military training.