Tens of thousands of Iranians rallied on Saturday in Tehran and other major cities to mark the 44th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, as their President said months-long protests had been defeated.
For the past two years, the 1979 overthrow of the Western-backed shah was commemorated mainly by Iranians who drove around cities in their cars or on motorcycles due to Covid restrictions.
But this year, waving flags, they took to the streets of Tehran on foot and converged on Azadi (Freedom) Square, one of the capital’s most prominent landmarks, despite chilly temperatures.
They chanted “Down with the US”, “Down with Israel”, “Down with the UK” and “Down with the traitor Al Saud”, in reference to Saudi Arabia.
People held up pictures of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as well as the late ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic republic, and revered general Qasem Soleimani, killed in a US air strike on Baghdad airport in January 2020.
They also held placards reading “We stand to the end”, “A united, strong and stable Iran” and “We obey the leader”.
Sejjil ballistic missiles and Shahed 136 drones were on display around the square where President Ebrahim Raisi said people had gathered to renew their “allegiance” to the revolution.
“This pledge of allegiance is much greater than a vote” of confidence in the Islamic republic, said the ultra-conservative President.
Read the article in The Australian (AFP).