‘Rings of revenge’: How Iranian women are pledging gold to avenge Ayatollah Khamenei

The Nehzat-e Madari movement, which runs the drive, has reportedly gifted gold donors bracelets bearing a bullet-shaped plaque as a reminder of their stated mission

Iranian women have launched a campaign pledging their wedding rings as a symbolic reward for revenge against US President Donald Trump, with hundreds gathering in Tehran to express their support for retribution following recent wars.According to Iranian newspaper Tehran Times, the campaign, called ‘Rings of Revenge’, was launched by a group of women under the name ‘Madaraaneh’ (Maternal). The initiative was unveiled alongside a gathering titled ‘Rastakhiz of Tehran Women’, or ‘The Uprising of the Women of Tehran’, held on Thursday night, October 22, outside the main gate of the University of Tehran.Hundreds of women from different walks of life attended the gathering, including students, volunteers and the wives and daughters of those killed in the two recent wars.

The programme featured speeches by women activists, choir performances and elegies, with revenge emerging as its central theme.The participants also joined the ‘Golden Retribution’ campaign, which encourages donations of gold and money to support what organisers describe as efforts to secure revenge. The Nehzat-e Madari movement, which runs the drive, has reportedly gifted gold donors bracelets bearing a bullet-shaped plaque as a reminder of their stated mission.

Tehran Times reported that the organisers view retribution for the killing of Iran's former leader as a mission, with the donated jewellery serving as a symbol of their commitment.Since the war began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, Tehran has lost several key political, military and security figures, dealing a major blow to the country’s leadership. Among those killed were Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, national security chief Ali Larijani and senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).The campaign comes amid continuing tensions across the Middle East, with Iran's relations with the US and Israel remaining a major source of regional uncertainty. The wider conflict has also involved the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have continued to launch attacks against targets they describe as linked to their adversaries.Meanwhile, Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz on Monday denied reports of a rift between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the military leadership over a possible operation against Iran ahead of Israel's national elections. Katz said Israel did not intend to strike Iran before the vote but warned that it would respond with force if Tehran attacked first.