Thousands of Iranians filled the streets and squares, displaying flags, balloons, and banners adorned with revolutionary and religious symbols as they marked the 45th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution on Sunday.
Crowds in Tehran waved Iranian flags, chanted slogans, and carried placards bearing the typical "Death to America" and "Death to Israel" messages. Some people burnt US and Israeli flags as well.
Processions began at various locations before gathering on Azadi Square in the capital. State television showed crowds in various cities and towns, reporting that "millions participated in rallies" across the country.
The military showed a variety of weapons, including the Qassem Soleimani and Sejjil ballistic missiles, the Simorgh satellite carrier, and drones in the square, where people could take photographs with them.
During the celebrations, a paratrooper from elite forces jumped from a plane holding a Palestinian flag.
Many senior Iranian officials, including hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi, joined the celebrations in Tehran.
In a speech carried on state television, he addressed the people in Azadi Square and called on the United Nations to evict "the Zionist regime," while the crowds chanted, "Death to Israel."
Raisi also said, "The bombing of Gaza must be stopped as soon as possible."
General Mohammad Salami, commander of the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and Gen. Esmail Ghaani, commander of Iran's paramilitary
Revolutionary Guard expeditionary force, both attended the celebrations, as did the head of the Judiciary body, Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehi, who was at the rally in Isfahan.
There was a strong security presence in all major cities around the country. The event occurred a month after an attack by the ISIS terror group in the central city of Kerman which left at least 95 people dead.
Iran has attempted to blame the strike on the United States and Israel, while Israel's offensive in Gaza continues.
The Islamic Republic conducted missile attacks against Iraq and Syria.
It then struck alleged anti-Iran Sunni militant group Jaish al-Adl targets in nuclear-armed Pakistan, which responded with its strikes on Iran, further raising tensions in a region inflamed by the Israel-Hamas war.
Earlier in January a drone attack killed three U.S. troops in Jordan which an umbrella group for Iran-backed factions known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed.
The U.S. said it held Tehran responsible. Iran threatened to “decisively respond” to any U.S. attack on the Islamic Republic.
Follow us
