WANA (May 18) – Imagine a city wrapped in the heavy shadow of an impending war, where the news speaks only of a fragile ceasefire. Yet, instead of taking refuge in their homes, a thousand young couples decide to put on their brightest white attire, take to the streets, and proclaim the beginning of their union under a pouring spring rain.

 

On the evening of May 18, 2026, Tehran’s Imam Hossein Square witnessed exactly this cinematic and paradoxical scene. Raindrops settled on the brides’ white veils while, just a short distance away, the metallic hull of an air defense missile grew slick with rain. Crowds of onlookers, with tearful eyes and trembling hands, cheered and ululated at every “I do,” celebrating the courage of these youths and sharing in their joy.

 

This unique event, held under the banner of the “Jan-Fada Couples Campaign”, was no ordinary wedding; it carried a profound ideological and historical significance. The spark and primary inspiration for this gathering was its convergence with the 1st of Dhu al-Hijjah—the anniversary of the marriage of Imam Ali, the first Shia Imam, and Hazrat Fatima, the daughter of Prophet Muhammad—a day celebrated in Iran as “Marriage Day.”

An Iranian couple arrive on a military vehicle during a public wedding ceremony called Sacrificed couple wedding, in Tehran, Iran, May 18, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

This day stands as the absolute symbol of starting a life with the simplest means but the deepest spiritual bonds. Drawing inspiration from that historical blueprint, these couples chose the city’s main public squares over luxurious wedding halls to broadcast two vital messages:

 

First: To remind a population that needed a glimmer of hope after difficult days and the loss of loved ones that life and joy still flow, and that happiness must be shared collectively.

 

Second: To send a defiant, symbolic message to adversaries who believed the shadow of threats had paralyzed the city with terror.

 

This initiative is rooted in a larger national movement called “Jan-Fada“—a campaign launched following recent threats of a ground invasion against Iran by the United States and Israel. To date, over 31 million Iranians have registered their readiness to defend their homeland.

 

wedding

1,000 Couples Tie the Knot in Tehran Mass Wedding Campaign

WANA (May 18) – An official mass wedding ceremony for 1,000 couples is set to take place across the main squares of the Iranian capital. The event, organized under the banner of the “Jan-Fada Couples” campaign, coincides with the 1st of Dhu al-Hijjah on the Islamic calendar.   This date marks the wedding anniversary of […]

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Now, under the title of “Jan-Fada Couples,” these youths have intertwined their love with the resilience and destiny of their country. The square was a surging sea of romance and patriotism; the three-colored national flags stood alongside portraits of fallen generals and the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, dominating the capital to demonstrate that these marriages were deeply fused with a sense of national devotion.

 

One of the brides told the WANA correspondent: “We want to tell the enemies of Islam, throughout the world, that none of their threats, whether war, psychological warfare, or physical war, have been and will not be an obstacle for us on the path of the Ahl al-Bayt of the Prophet.”

 

Another bride, tightly gripping her husband’s hand, added: “Yes, we have registered (in JANFADA), and if there is a war, my husband and I have said we will both go together, somehow.”

 

Yet, this epic event had another side to it—a narrative of brave realism. Mohammadsaleh Heshmati, one of the grooms, spoke with striking honesty: “we liked it to be in a more peaceful situation (our wedding) but it didn’t matter, in any case, we made our decision, on this day we get married, it didn’t matter what happened, war or peace, I wish it was peace so people were less sad, but it’s ok .”

People attend a public wedding ceremony called the Sacrificed couple wedding, in Tehran, Iran, May 18, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

Looking at a pink-painted missile displayed at the corner of the square, he responded to the WANA correspondent: “Most likely, in my opinion, there will be war, and if it is a ground war, we can help; we will participate one hundred percent. Even if it is not on the ground, if they say, come and help us make missiles, we will go headfirst. Why not?”

 

Amir Teimori, another groom registered in the campaign, shared a romantic conversation rooted in fierce honor: “When I registered on the Jan-Fada website, I told my wife I talked to her and said that I do not want you without this country, this land has to exist for me to want you (want our marriage) and definitly if anything happens that we need to go to field, I will go and defend my country with all my heart”

 

Sahar Teimori, another bride, also confirmed this constant state of readiness: “From the beginning, when the campaign started, my spouse registered, and the nights that people had rally, we participated in those too if our situation allowed it , we are definitely ready for whatever is necessary, we are behind the leader, and we support him.”

 

As the clock neared 7:00 PM and the marriage vows concluded, the most vibrant part of the evening began—a moment that bridged a beloved, ancient Iranian tradition with today’s epic atmosphere: the “Aroos-Gardoni” (The wedding car convoy).

Military vehicles during a public wedding ceremony called Sacrificed couple wedding, in Tehran, Iran, May 18, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

In Persian culture, it is customary for family and friends to escort the bride to her new home after the wedding ceremony, expressing their joy through continuous car honking. Tonight, however, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Jeeps, beautifully adorned with fresh flowers, served as the wedding cars for these Jan-Fada couples.

 

The caravan of brides moved in unison, beneath a rain that had softened into a gentle drizzle—a blessing for their new lives. The floral-decorated vehicles journeyed from Imam Hossein Square toward Azadi Square.

 

The relentless, heartfelt honking of citizens wishing to share in the joy, the personal cars of residents joining the procession, and pedestrians waving from the sidewalks flooded the capital with an overwhelming sense of passion and peace.

 

This symbolic wedding caravan continued until 8:00 PM—a rainy night where missiles stood witness to vows of fidelity, and a thousand young couples demonstrated that even under the heaviest downpours and the most fragile ceasefires, love and devotion to the homeland will never be extinguished.

An Iranian couple arrives on a military vehicle during a public wedding ceremony called Sacrificed couple wedding, in Tehran, Iran, May 18, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)