Iran begins festivities marking 43rd Islamic Revolution anniversary (1)

Iran has begun celebrations to commemorate the 43rd anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, which overthrew the US-backed Pahlavi regime.

The festivities, known as the Ten-Day Dawn, start with ceremonies that mark the return to Iran of Imam Khomeini, the late founder of the Islamic Republic, after 15 years in exile.

Millions of Iranians welcomed the charismatic leader in Tehran on February 1, 1979. His arrival intensified months of popular protests against the Pahlavi regime.

Ten days later, the rallies culminated in the downfall of the Pahlavi regime, bringing the curtain down on more than two millennia of monarchy in Iran.

The Islamic Revolution established a new political system; a republic based on Islamic values and democracy.

“Like every year, we gathered today in this holy place to pay respect to Imam Khomeini. A man who changed the course of history in our country and established a political system that respects our beliefs as Muslims,” a person attending the ceremonies at the mausoleum of Imam Khomeini said.

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, visited the mausoleum of Imam Khomeini on Monday.

During the 10-Day Dawn celebrations, Iranians take part in different events and activities to mark the occasion.

“We lost many of our beloved ones for the sake of the Islamic Republic. By celebrating the event, we seek to say no to foreign interference in our country. We still stick to those ideals no matter how much pressure and sanctions the US imposes on our nation,” another attendee told Press TV.

Less than two months after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, Iranians took part in a referendum, where more than 98 percent of eligible voters voted ‘yes’ to the Islamic Republic as a new political system.

SS