Protests in Iran against Saudi-led air war on Yemen

Thousands of people demonstrated on Friday in Tehran to denounce Saudi-led air strikes on Shiite rebels in Yemen, where Iran is accused of meddling by Saudi Arabia.

The protests came as Iran rejected anew Saudi claims it was interfering in Yemen by backing the Huthi rebels, and accused Riyadh of seeking to absolve itself of responsibility in the war. Protesters thronged the city centre chanting “Death to America”, “Death to Israel” and “Death to the Saudi (royal) family”, according to footage shown on state television.

They also denounced US support for the military operations, the report said.

Some protesters carried placards that read: “From Gaza to Yemen, stop killing children”, and state television described the protest as “massive”.

An effigy of King Salman of Saudi Arabia holding an American flag in one hand and an Israeli one in the other was also displayed at the rally.

In a statement published by Fars news agency, organisers of the protest criticised Riyadh, branding it “the capital that fosters radicalism and terrorism”.

They also denounced the Saudi royal family, which they described as “the most prominent manifestation of American Islam and the regime that depends the most on the Great Satan”, referring to US.