STORY: Supporters of regime change in Iran rallied in Toronto on Saturday (February 28), waving pre-revolutionary Lion and Sun flags and holding portraits of exiled opposition figure Reza Pahlavi, following U.S.-Israeli strikes on the Middle East nation which killed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Some participants expressed hope the strikes would topple the government. “We are getting free from this regime,” said Max, who only provided his first name and described feeling both happy and sad.

Experts said that while the deaths of Khamenei and other Iranian leaders would deal the country a major blow, it would not necessarily spell the end of Iran's entrenched clerical rule or the Revolutionary Guards' sway over the population.

The Lion and Sun served as Iran's national flag from 1907 until the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Local broadcaster CBC, citing police estimates, put the rally attendance at around 40,000 to 45,000.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA (FEBRUARY 28, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE PARTICIPATING IN RALLY SUPPORTING REGIME CHANGE IN IRAN, WITH PORTRAIT OF IRANIAN OPPOSITION FIGURE, REZA PAHLAVI

2. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE AT RALLY HOLDING SIGNS AND WAVING LION AND SUN FLAGS

3. WOMAN HOLDING SIGN WITH PHOTOGRAPH OF PAHLAVI

4. PEOPLE HOLDING SIGN, READING (English): “NO ISLAMIC REGIME FOR IRAN”

5. MAN AT RALLY WITH WORDS ON CAP, READING (English): “MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN”

6. PERSON AT RALLY WITH FACE PAINT, HOLDING UP LION AND SUN FLAG

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PERSON PARTICIPATING IN RALLY SUPPORTING REGIME CHANGE IN IRAN, MAX (NO SURNAME GIVEN), SAYING:

“I have a mixed feeling. Happy, at the same time sad. There are so many people (who have) died because of this regime. So at the same time, we are happy that we are getting free from this regime.”

8. PEOPLE PARTICIPATING IN RALLY HOLDING UP LARGE LION AND SUN FLAG

9. PEOPLE PARTICIPATING IN RALLY

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PERSON PARTICIPATING IN RALLY SUPPORTING REGIME CHANGE IN IRAN, REZA (NO SURNAME GIVEN), SAYING:

“To celebrate the launch of (the) attack by (the) U.S. and Israel against the Islamic dictatorship of Iran, and hopefully topple the regime for a free Iran.”

11. WOMEN AT RALLY CHANTING

12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PERSON PARTICIPATING IN RALLY SUPPORTING REGIME CHANGE IN IRAN, SHANA HEZAVEHI, SAYING:

“We're very, very, very hopeful and joyful and excited for a free Iran. It's kind of (an) unbelievable feeling. We're kind of in shock and now we realize that it's actually happening. You know, it's been 47 years of torture and pain for our people and Iranian outside of Iran. And we're so, so proud of our people in Iran for standing and for fighting for their freedom. For leaving their homes, knowing that they might lose their lives and doing it anyways. And we stood by them every step of the way. And we will continue to step every step of the way with them until Iran is completely free. And we have rebuilt the nation that it used to be with my people. Yes, we've been waiting for so long.”

13. WOMAN IN TRADITIONAL IRANIAN CLOTHING HOLDING UP LION AND SUN FLAG

14. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PERSON PARTICIPATING IN RALLY SUPPORTING REGIME CHANGE IN IRAN, DONYA KHALIGH, SAYING:

“Very happy. I'm so happy. You can see all my people. What they do, how they scream, how they dancing today, how they're happy. And I'm so happy emotionally from my bottom of heart. I’m so happy today for my all the people.”

15. PEOPLE HOLDING UP RAINBOW FLAG

16. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PERSON PARTICIPATING IN RALLY SUPPORTING REGIME CHANGE IN IRAN, AVIN AZAT, SAYING:

“Of course, can’t wait. There is absolutely some process to do. But of course, if there’s to come and signs (it’s) going to be okay, of course I'm going to show up there. Why not? That's my hometown, right?”

17. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PERSON PARTICIPATING IN RALLY SUPPORTING REGIME CHANGE IN IRAN, POUYA FAROKHZAT, SAYING:

“My feeling is a mixed feeling. I think most of Iranian has a mixed feeling. We are both happy and hopeful for the future and things might happen. And we are also worried for our loved ones and families in Iran. But we are open to take that risk. We are open to take that risk for freedom, for liberty.”

18. PERSON HOLDING UP SIGN, READING (English): “THANK YOU PRESIDENT TRUMP”

19. PEOPLE CHANTING (English): “THANK YOU TRUMP”