Protests broke out in Pakistan and Iraq on Sunday after Iranian state media confirmed that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed in joint U.S.–Israeli strikes. At least nine people were reported dead in clashes near the U.S. consulate in Karachi.
In Pakistan’s southern city of Karachi, hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the U.S. consulate on Mai Kolachi Road in the early hours of Sunday. Police said protesters breached the outer wall of the compound and set a vehicle on fire near the main gate.
Security forces fired tear gas and gunfire was heard in surrounding streets as authorities moved to disperse the crowd.
Police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed said nine bodies had been brought to Karachi’s Civil Hospital following the clashes. Earlier accounts from local welfare officials cited slightly different casualty figures. Authorities did not immediately provide a consolidated breakdown of the causes of death.
Reuters reported that gunfire and tear gas were used around the compound. The U.S. Consulate in Karachi and the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Large demonstrations were also reported elsewhere in Pakistan.
In the northern region of Gilgit-Baltistan, protesters set fire to a United Nations office building in Skardu, according to local government spokesperson Shabbir Mir, who said no casualties were reported there.
In Lahore, hundreds gathered outside the U.S. consulate, where some protesters attempted to approach security gates before being stopped by police. Authorities said the situation was brought under control without significant violence.
In Islamabad, police blocked roads leading to the diplomatic enclave, which houses foreign embassies and parliament, as a precaution.
In Iraq, pro-Iran demonstrators gathered near the Green Zone in Baghdad, where the U.S. Embassy is located. There were no immediate reports of casualties in the Iraqi capital.
Pakistan and Iraq both have large Shiite Muslim populations, and the demonstrations followed news of Khamenei’s death.
Authorities in both countries have not released comprehensive official tallies of injuries or property damage. Independent verification of all details remains limited as events continue to unfold.
State authorities declared 40 days of national mourning. However, videos emerging despite widespread communications disruptions showed scenes of both grief and celebration.
In several neighbourhoods of Tehran and other major cities, groups gathered late into the night, with some chanting for freedom, honking car horns and setting off fireworks. In other areas, supporters of the late leader expressed sorrow on social media and at smaller religious gatherings.
Telecommunications outages across much of the country made it difficult to assess public sentiment fully. Footage verified by international media outlets showed crowds dancing in parts of Tehran, Shiraz, Isfahan and other western cities, while others described a subdued atmosphere amid uncertainty about what comes next.
With protests spreading beyond Iran’s borders and tensions escalating across the region, the situation remains fluid.
President Trump has issued a warning to the international community, claiming a nuclear-armed Iran would strike Israel "very quickly&quo...
Türkiye’s Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz will travel to Armenia in early May to attend the 8th Europe...
The Milli Majlis Temporary Commission on Foreign Interference and Hybrid Threats ...
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has pledged to strengthen relations with Vietnam, with a focus on e...
U.S. President Donald Trump has said he will raise tariffs on cars and trucks imported from the European Union to 25%...
President Trump has issued a warning to the international community, claiming a nuclear-armed Iran would strike Israel "very quickly" before targeting Europe and the United States.
More than 100 pro‑Palestinian activists aboard boats carrying aid to Gaza were taken to the Greek island of Crete on Friday after Israeli forces seized their vessels in international waters near Greece, according to flotilla organisers.
Türkiye’s Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz will travel to Armenia in early May to attend the 8th European Political Community Summit, marking the highest-level visit from Türkiye to Armenia to date.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said he will raise tariffs on cars and trucks imported from the European Union to 25% next week, up from the 15% level agreed last year, accusing the bloc of failing to comply with its trade commitments.
Minval Politika has released further footage it says shows former International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo discussing alleged funding behind campaigns linked to Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned “foreigners who commit evil” have no place in the Gulf, outlining a “new phase” for the Strait of Hormuz, while a senior adviser said U.S. blockade efforts would fail and could trigger confrontation.
U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters he was "not satisfied" with Iran's latest peace proposal, which was delivered to Washington via Pakistani mediators on Friday (1 May).
Dubai chef Shaw Lash at Mexican restaurant Lila Molino flies in her avocados and tomatillos, small, tart green fruits native to Central America that are a staple of Mexican cuisine and key for her colourful and spicy dishes.
A European Parliament resolution on Armenia is stirring debate beyond Brussels, with its wording raising concerns in Azerbaijan as peace talks gather momentum.
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has pledged to strengthen relations with Vietnam, with a focus on energy security and critical minerals, following talks in Hanoi on Saturday (2 May).
Trade between Colombia and Ecuador has fallen sharply after new tariffs were imposed, with business groups warning of mounting damage to the cross-border economy.
President Trump has issued a warning to the international community, claiming a nuclear-armed Iran would strike Israel "very quickly" before targeting Europe and the United States.
The United States is withdrawing 5,000 troops from NATO ally Germany, the Pentagon announced on Friday, as a rift over the Iran war widens between President Donald Trump and Europe.
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday broadening U.S. sanctions against the Cuban government, two White House officials told Reuters, as he seeks to put more pressure on Havana.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment