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Iranians mark anniversary of victory day in 1979 revolution

SUMMARY

Waving Iranian flags, chanting "Death to America" and burning US and Israeli flags, hundreds of thousands of people poured out onto the streets across Iran on Monday, marking the date that's considered victory day in the country's 1979 Islamic Revolution. On February 11 that year, Iran's military stood down after days of street battles, allowing the revolutionaries to sweep across the country while the government of US-backed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi resigned and the Islamic Republic was born. In Tehran, despite the rain, crowds streamed in from the capital's far-flung neighbourhoods to mass in the central Azadi, or Freedom, Square, waving Iranian flags and chanting "Death to America" — standard fare at rallies across Iran. Chants of "Death to Israel" and "Death to Britain" followed, and demonstrators burned US and Israeli flags. Iranian state TV, which said millions participated in the celebrations, ran archive footage of the days of the uprising and played revolutionary songs. It later broadcast footage showing crowds across the country of 80 million. The 6-mile-long downtown Enghelab, or Revolution, Street was decorated with huge balloons as loudspeakers blared out revolutionary and nationalist songs. Every year, the anniversary festivities start on February 1 — the day Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned from France after 14 years in exile to become the supreme leader as Shiite clerics took power. The celebrations continue for 10 days, climaxing on February 11. This year's anniversary comes as Iran grapples with the aftermath of President Donald Trump's decision last May to withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal and restore tough US sanctions.

By AP Feb 13, 2019 7:45:58 PM IST (Updated)


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Schoolgirls wave Iranian flags during a ceremony celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, at the Azadi, or Freedom, Square, in Tehran, Iran, Monday, February 11, 2019. Hundreds of thousands of people poured out onto the streets of Tehran and other cities and towns across Iran on Monday, marking the date 40 years ago that is considered victory day in the country's 1979 Islamic Revolution. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

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Iranian demonstrators chant slogans during a ceremony celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, at the Azadi, Freedom, Square in Tehran, Iran, Monday, February 11, 2019. Crowds streamed in the rain from a dozen of the capital's far-flung neighbourhoods to mass in central Tehran waving Iranian flags and chanting "Death to America" — a chant that has been standard fare at anti-US rallies across Iran. Posters in Farsi read, "Death to Israel." (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

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