Iran Marks 45th Anniversary of Islamic Revolution Amid Heightened Middle East Tensions
On Sunday, Iran commemorated the 45th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which saw the overthrow of the government led by Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The occasion unfolded against the backdrop of simmering tensions in the wider Middle East, with the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip dominating regional headlines.
Throughout the day, thousands of Iranians took to the streets, marching through major thoroughfares adorned with flags, balloons, and banners featuring revolutionary and religious slogans. In Tehran, crowds waved Iranian flags, chanted slogans, and brandished placards with the traditional phrases of 'Death to America' and 'Death to Israel.' It is worth noting that the burning of U.S. and Israeli flags is a customary practice during pro-government rallies.
Processions originating from various locations culminated at Azadi Square in the capital. State television coverage showed enthusiastic crowds in numerous cities and towns, with claim 'millions' of Iranians participating in rallies across the country. At Azadi Square, the military showcased an array of weaponry, including the Qassem Soleimani and Sejjil ballistic missiles, the Simorgh satellite carrier, and a display of drones, prompting people to take selfies with the armaments.
The festivities also featured a paratrooper who descended from a plane while unfurling a Palestinian flag, a symbolic gesture of solidarity with the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.
Several prominent Iranian officials attended the celebrations, including the newly elected hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi. In his address to the crowds at Azadi Square, President Raisi called on the United Nations, through a televised speech, to expel 'the Zionist regime.' The crowd fervently chanted 'Death to Israel' in response. Raisi also made a plea for the cessation of the bombing in Gaza.
Joining President Raisi were key figures such as General Mohammad Salami, the commander of the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and General Esmail Ghaani, the head of Iran's expeditionary force within the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejehi, the head of the Judiciary body, attended the rally in the central city of Isfahan.
Given the current security climate, there was a notable presence of security forces in major cities across the country, ensuring the smooth and peaceful conduct of the anniversary celebrations.
This milestone comes approximately one month after a deadly attack in Kerman, claimed by the extremist Islamic State group, during the commemoration of the prominent Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in 2020. Iran has sought to blame the United States and Israel for the attack, coinciding with Israel's military campaign in the Gaza Strip. In response, Iran launched missile attacks on Iraq and Syria before striking alleged targets of the anti-Iran Sunni militant group, Jaish al-Adl, in nuclear-armed Pakistan. The Pakistani government responded with its own strikes on Iran, further escalating tensions in an already volatile region due to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Adding to regional concerns, three U.S. troops were killed in Jordan in January in a drone attack claimed by a coalition of Iran-backed factions known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq. The United States held Iran responsible for the attack, leading to heightened tensions between the two nations. Iran promptly issued a warning, stating it would 'decisively respond' to any U.S. aggression towards the Islamic Republic.
The 1979 Islamic Revolution was born out of widespread unrest in Iran over the rule of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The shah, who was terminally ill with cancer and hidden from the public, fled the country in January 1979. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the spiritual leader of the revolution, returned from exile, and on February 11, 1979, the government collapsed following days of mass protests and confrontations between demonstrators and security forces.
As Iran marks this significant anniversary, tensions in the Middle East remain high, underscoring the complex dynamics at play in the region and the enduring impact of the Islamic Revolution on both domestic and international affairs.
