Iran marks anniversary of 1979 revolution with countrywide rall

By Syed Zafar Mehdi

TEHRAN, Iran (AA) – Thousands of Iranians took to the streets in the capital Tehran and other major cities on Saturday to mark the 44th anniversary of Iran’s 1979 revolution.
For the first time in three years, foot processions were taken out after authorities relaxed the COVID-19 restrictions.

The rallies in Tehran started in the wee hours of the morning from different parts of the city and converged at the iconic Azadi Square, where President Ebrahim Raisi addressed people.
In his speech, Raisi accused the United States and Israel of waging war against the Iranian people, stressing that the presence of Americans is detrimental to regional security.

He also offered condolences to the people and governments of Türkiye and Syria over last week's devastating earthquakes and reaffirmed Iran's commitment to helping the quake-affected people.

Similar street processions were taken out in other major Iranian cities, including Qom, Mashhad, Isfahan, Qazvin and Shiraz, state media reported.
Bahman 22, which corresponds with February 11, marks the anniversary of the end of the 54-year rule of Iran's Pahlavi dynasty and the establishment of the Islamic Republic and theoretical form of government.

The events that led to the ouster of the last Pahlavi dynasty ruler – Mohammad Reza Pahlavi – also caused the breakdown in diplomatic relations between Tehran and Washington.
In November 1979, the takeover of the US Embassy in Tehran and the subsequent hostage crisis led to a diplomatic standoff between the two countries that continues to date.