Last update: March 29, 2024 01:04

Newsroom logo

Iran Marks 40th Anniversary Of Islamic Revolution

By Orkhan Jalilov February 12, 2019

None

Huge numbers of people and officials took to the streets in the capital Tehran and across Iran to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, on February 11, 2019. / Asghar Khamseh / Tehran Times

Iranians have taken to the streets to celebrate the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which 40 years ago marked the end of a monarchical system in favor of an Islamic republic. People young and old renewed their allegiance to the country's Islamic principles, chanting anti-American slogans – a common occurrence in Iran during revolutionary celebrations.

“This year, we are holding February 11 celebrations when the United States, the Zionists and the reactionaries in the region have put our people under the pressure of sanctions,” Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said while addressing a gathering in Tehran yesterday, according to the president’s official website.

“Today, 85 percent of our defensive equipment and needs are built by our own powerful, brave engineers inside the country, whereas in the past regime, 95 percent of our weapons was foreign,” Rouhani said. “We have not – and will not – ask for permission from anybody for improving our defensive power.”

Millions of people are reported to have taken part in what are annual rallies to show support for the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which marks the overthrow of the Pahlavi dynasty. Events were held this year in more than 1,000 cities and towns and in 4,000 villages throughout Iran, during a time of rising economic and political pressures and the resumption of sanctions by the United States.

Iranians chanted “Death to America,” “Death to Israel” and “Death to the al-Saud” family, expressing anger and frustration at three long-time foes of Iran, namely the United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia. Some carried pictures of the founder of the Islamic Revolution, the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini who became the Islamic Republic of Iran’s first Supreme Leader, and those of his successor, the current Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Demonstrators are reported to have issued statements at the end of the rallies, announcing that economic resilience is the only way to solve economic problems, adding that any measure to cause public distrust in the Islamic system will fail.

“The media-psychological war and sanctions, aiming to make the public disappointed about the future and prompt them to lose trust in the Islamic establishment are doomed to failure,” reads the statement.

Over 300 journalists from foreign media outlets and more than 6,000 Iranian reporters, photographers and cameramen covered the demonstrations held throughout the country on February 11.