KARACHI, Pakistan/BAGHDAD, March 1, 2026 — A wave of protests swept through major cities in Pakistan and Iraq following the shocking news of the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. The protests turned violent in places like Karachi, where at least nine people were killed and dozens injured as demonstrators clashed with police and security forces at the U.S. consulate.
Karachi: Chaos Outside the U.S. Consulate
On the evening of February 28, approximately 2,000 protesters gathered outside the U.S. consulate in Karachi, incited by anger over Khamenei's death. They breached the outer security wall, chanting slogans such as "Death to America" and "Death to Israel," prompting an aggressive response from both the consulate's security personnel and local authorities.
“We are in constant touch with consulate officials. They are all safe,” confirmed Sukhdev Assardas Hemnani, a local government spokesman. However, the situation escalated when consulate guards opened fire on the crowd, leading to a tragic outcome. Local police indicated that all fatalities involved gunshot wounds.
“This is a dark day for us. All those killed are martyrs to this cause,” proclaimed a local Shi'ite leader at the demonstration. As the violence peaked, the Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi called for calm, urging protesters to express their grievances peacefully.
Wider Unrest Across Pakistan
The unrest didn't end in Karachi. Protests erupted across various cities in Pakistan, from Lahore to Islamabad, where tensions also flared outside the U.S. diplomatic missions. As protestors burned an office belonging to the United Nations in Skardu, located in the usually peaceful region of Gilgit Baltistan, it became clear that anger towards Western powers was simmering across the nation.
In Lahore, police clashed with crowds that attempted to breach barricades set up outside the U.S. consulate, using tear gas to disperse protestors. Meanwhile, in the capital city of Islamabad, authorities closed off roads leading to the Red Zone, home to foreign embassies, marking a significant escalation in security measures.
Baghdad: Tensions at the Green Zone
Meanwhile, in Iraq, hundreds of pro-Iranian protesters gathered outside the Green Zone, a highly secured area that houses various foreign embassies including the U.S. embassy. As demonstrators attempted to breach the perimeter, Iraqi police responded with tear gas and stun grenades, pushing demonstrators back and containing the violence.
The political climate in Iraq remains precarious, given that it has the second-largest Shi'ite Muslim population after Iran, meaning Khamenei's death stirs deep-rooted sentiments among the population. Photos emerged of protests in Baghdad, where Iranian flags were waved and slogans against U.S. involvement in the Middle East echoed through the streets.
Implications for Geopolitical Relations
These violent eruptions pose significant challenges for U.S.-Pakistan relations, especially with the wider Sunni-Shi'ite divides rekindling traditional antagonisms within the region. The U.S. Embassy in Pakistan has cautioned American citizens to take extra security measures amid this heightened state of alert.
In this evolving situation, the international community watches closely, anticipating further repercussions of Khamenei's killing on regional dynamics and the potential for increased hostilities.
Conclusion
The protests reflecting outrage over Khamenei's death demonstrate just how deeply the Iranian leadership resides in the hearts of many Shi'ites across the region. With this flare-up of violence, the path forward remains uncertain as tensions continue to mount between Iran, its allies, and Western institutions.
Related Coverage
For more information on the developments surrounding Khamenei's killing and its implications for Middle Eastern geopolitics, click here.
Reporting by Akhtar Soomro, Ariba Shahid, Mushtaq Ali, Mubasher Bukhari, Asif Shahzad, and Ahmed Rasheed; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Christina Fincher.
