Protestors have gathered in Glasgow city centre after the United States and Israel launched military strikes on Iran.
The first apparent strike landed near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with Iranian media reporting strikes nationwide.
Donald Trump said in a video posted on social media that the US had begun “major combat operations in Iran”.
The US president called the attacks “a noble mission”, saying they were necessary because of Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and missile systems that could reach the US.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the joint attack with the US aimed to “remove an existential threat posed” by Iran, and added that Iranians could “take their fate into their own hands”.
Now, two groups of protestors have gathered at the top of Buchanan Street outside the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.
Both pro-Shah and pro-Israel protestors, and pro-Palestine protestors were in attendance.
Pro-Shah refers to support for the restoration of the Pahlavi monarchy in Iran and bringing Reza Pahlavi to power.
He is the son of the last Shah, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, who ruled until the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Pictures taken at the protest this afternoon (February 28) show people carrying Iranian, Israeli, and United States flags, with protestors holding signs with statements such as "make Iran great again" and "the return of Pahlavi".
Meanwhile, pro-Palestine protestors chanted: “From Iran to Palestine, bombing children is a crime" and "Israel is a terrorist state".
Police separated the two groups. It's understood at least one person was removed by officers.
Abbas Lessani, chairman of the Iranian-Scottish Association and one of the organisers of the pro-Shah protest, said he is grateful to the American and Israeli governments.
He said: "The war has started in Iran and we’re quite happy, we’re grateful to the Israeli government and we’re grateful to America.
"On the other side are a bunch of thugs, some of them from Gaza and some of them Scottish, I don’t know what they want.
"We know what we want, we’re here to stand for the people of Iran, we’re the voice of the voiceless.
"The current regime is finished. I give it a few days and they’ll be gone."
Commenting on whether he wanted Reza Pahlavi in power, he added: "We’re all ready to go, we have a transitional government all lined up who are ready to come in and control the country.”
Kieran Cowan, however, says restoring the Iranian monarchy would be "absolutely horrendous".
He said: "It’s a disastrous idea from a psychopathic lunatic.
"They’ve forgotten who the Shah was. The old Shah was rotten and corrupt.
"I’m amazed that these people are putting themselves forward as harbingers of freedom.
"The Shah certainly didn’t believe in freedom.
"The plan was for Netanyahu to take over the Middle East on behalf of America, that’s what’s going on."
Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said it had launched its “first wave” of drones and missiles targeting Israel
The UK Foreign Office had evacuated all staff from Iran on Friday, while the American embassy in Israel had said non-essential staff could leave.
Airspace over Iran, Israel, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE and Qatar has been closed.
The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice to warn against all travel to Israel and Palestine.
In a statement on its website, it said: "Due to the threat posed by escalation in the region, we recommend against all travel to Israel and Palestine.
"On 28 February 2026, the US and Israel commenced joint military action in Iran, Israeli airspace has now closed."
British nationals in the region are urged to take “sensible precautions”, including following advice from regional authorities, staying away from military facilities and ensuring travel documents are up to date.
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