Mali, March 13 -- Thousands of Iranians braved explosions and ongoing US-Israeli airstrikes to take part in nationwide Quds Day rallies on Friday, with several of the country's top leaders joining demonstrators in Tehran in a show of defiance. At least one person was killed when a blast struck near the march in the capital amid the 14th day of the war.

Iranian state television reported that a powerful midday explosion rocked Ferdowsi Square near Tehran University, close to the epicentre of the annual demonstrations held in solidarity with Palestinians. The English-language state broadcaster Press TV said a woman was killed by shrapnel following what it described as a US-Israeli airstrike.

Despite the explosions and continuing strikes ar...