The 45th anniversary of Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution was celebrated on Sunday against the backdrop of turmoil across the Middle East sparked by Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attack on Israel.
General Mohammad Salami, commander of the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, is one of the leaders of the regime’s calls for the destruction of the United States and Israel. blamed “Along with Britain and many European countries and their minions.” […] They were complicit in the Zionist regime’s crimes against the Palestinian people. ”
AP report Thousands of Iranians marched through boulevards and squares decorated with flags, balloons and banners with revolutionary and religious slogans.
In Tehran, crowds waved Iranian flags, chanted slogans and held traditional placards reading “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.”
Major General Hossein Salami, commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, was among those who called for the death of the United States and Israel. (Atta Kenale/AFP via Getty)
Some burned U.S. and Israeli flags, a common practice at pro-government rallies, the report said.
During the public celebration, paratroopers jumped from the plane while holding Palestinian flags.
The celebrations in Tehran were attended by many Iranian officials, including hardline President Ebrahim Raisi.
Raisi addressed the crowd in Azadi Square and called on the United Nations to oust the “Zionist regime” in a speech broadcast on state television as the crowd chanted “death to Israel.”
A demonstrator burns a representation of the Israeli flag during an annual rally commemorating the 1979 Iranian Islamic Revolution on Sunday, February 11, 2024 in Tehran, Iran. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
A man holds an anti-U.S. placard upside down in front of an Iranian-made missile on display during an annual gathering commemorating the 1979 Iranian Islamic Revolution in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024 (AP Photo) / Vahid Salemi)
Raisi also said that “the bombing of Gaza must be stopped as soon as possible.”
The Islamic Revolution began with widespread unrest within Iran over the rule of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
Shah suffered from terminal and secret cancer and fled the country in January 1979.
Then Ruhollah Khomeini returned from exile and the government collapsed on February 11, 1979, after several days of mass demonstrations and clashes between protesters and security forces.
AP contributed to this report
