Iran marks 40 years since revolution
IR AN’S president on Monday blasted a US “conspiracy” against t he countr y as vast crowds marked 40 years since t he Islamic revolution at a time of heightened tensions with Washington.
“The presence of people today on t he streets a ll over Islamic Iran … means that the enemy will never reach its ev il objectives,” President Hassan Rouhani told those thronging Tehran’s Azadi (Freedom) square.
Chador-clad women, militia members i n camouflage fatigues and ordinar y citizens marched t hrough t he capita l in freezing rain to mark the day in Februar y 1979 that Ayatolla h Ruholla h Khomeini ended millenia of roya l rule.
Life-si ze replicas of Iranianmade cruise and ballistic missiles lined t he route in a statement of defiance after Washington last year reimposed sanctions after pulling out of a deal on Tehran’s nuclear programme.
‘Unquestioning obedience’
A pre-prepared resolution was read out that proclaimed “unquestioning obedience to the supreme leader Ayatolla h Ali Khamenei” and ca lled US President Donald Trump an “idiot”.
The event on Monday was t he culmination of of ficia l celebrations ca lled the “10 Day Dawn” that mark the period between Februar y 1, 1979 and Februar y 11 when Shiite cleric Khomeini returned from ex ile and ousted t he shah’s last government.
The state has played up this year’s anniversar y as 40 is symbolic of maturit y in t he Isla mic tradition and the age at which Prophet Mohammed received revelations from God.
But despite t he of ficia l festiv ities today’s Islamic republic faces acute economic challenges as it struggles with a mix of domestic hardships and US sanctions.
‘Support the revolution’
State telev ision of fered blanket coverage of the commemorations, showing marchers in cities ranging from Abadan in southwestern Iran to Mashad in the northeast.
Banners held by marchers or hung along t he streets bore slogans including “Death to America”, “Death to Israel”, “we will trample on America”, “fort y years of challenge, fort y years of US defeats”.
An anchor on state telev ision warned of hostile foreign media tr y ing to downplay t he participation of Iranians in the march but expressed confidence t hat “t hey would be confounded by t he unprecedented level of attendance”.
Those who took to t he streets were bullish despite the economic problems in the countr y, made worse by Washington’s punitive measures.
Former public ser vant Saaghi insisted t hat it remained paramount for Iranians to stick by t he revolution.
“We are here to support the revolution,” t he 57-year-old pensioner, who refused to give his first name, said at t he event in Tehran.
He compared the US sanctions and economic hardships to “riding a bicycle when someone puts a stick in the wheels” but pointed to advances in other fields as more than making up for them.
“At t he revolution’s 40t h anniversar y we are on top of scientific achievements like nanotechnolog y or accurate missiles,” he said.
Extensive fireworks displays were held across Tehran on Sunday night.
Before the fireworks, supporters of the revolution shouted chants of “Alla hu Akbar” (God is greatest) from roof tops, reca lling t he protests that swept Khomeini to power four decades earlier.
Current supreme leader Ayatolla h Ali Khamenei is set to publish “a detailed statement explaining t he ‘second step’ of t he progress of t he Isla mic revolution”, his of ficia l website said.