https://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.pngIran’s government held rallies in cities across the country marking the 43rd anniversary of the takeover of the U.S. embassy in Iran and the Islamic revolution, which brought the current clerical government to power, while anti-government protests continue around the nation.
In 1979, radical students cemented Iran’s Islamic Revolution by storming the U.S. Embassy soon after the fall of the U.S.-backed Shah, and they took hostage 52 Americans who were held there for 444 days.
Iran’s state-run television carried live coverage Friday of state-supported rallies across the country marking the event, with banners saying, “National Day of Fighting Global Arrogance,” while songs called for “Death to America” and schoolchildren carried banners in support of the seizure of the U.S. embassy.
The Associated Press reports that while the rallies in and around the capital, Tehran, were large, the observations in other parts of the country were considerably smaller, with perhaps a few dozen people.
Speaking at a gathering in Tehran, Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi on Friday ridiculed a vow by U.S. President Joe Biden, who said during a campaign speech the U.S. was going to “free” Iran.
Speaking Friday during a campaign stop in California, ahead of Tuesday’s midterm elections, Biden said, “Don’t worry, we’re going to liberate Iran,” promptly adding, “They [the Iranian people] will soon free themselves.”
In his rejoinder, Raisi said that “the U.S. says it wants to free Iran, but I must tell you that Iran liberated itself 43 years ago and will no longer submit to you.”
When asked whether the president was signaling his support for a regime change in Tehran, a Biden aide appear to walk back the statement.