Iran marked the anniversary of its 1979 Islamic Revolution yesterday with massive rallies, with many chanting slogans against the US and Israel as the country tries to reach a permanent deal with world powers over its contested nuclear programme.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, addressing a crowd of thousands in Tehran, pledged to “spare no effort” to protect the Islamic Republic’s rights as it negotiates. “The sanctions have not forced Iran to enter the talks but the impracticality of the all-out pressures on Iran and the significant advancements in Iran’s peaceful nuclear programme made the United States come to the negotiation table,” Rouhani said.
“Iran is seeking a ‘win-win’ outcome in the nuclear talks with world powers.” Tayyebeh Ahmadi, a woman who attended the rally, said the nuclear talks likely inspired Iranians to take part in commemorations.
“This year, we have turned out bigger than before because of the ongoing nuclear talks to make America understand that it cannot achieve its goals in these talks,” Ahmadi said. In recent years, Iran has used the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution to demonstrate against the West over its sanctions for the country’s disputed nuclear programme.
The West fears Iran’s nuclear program could allow it to build nuclear weapons. Iran says its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes, like power generation and medical research.
