AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Iranians have demonstrated unity and solidarity in the face of foreign adversaries, including the United States and the Israeli regime, through widespread participation in marches and public gatherings supporting the Islamic Republic. Among the most prominent events was the anniversary rally commemorating the victory of the 1979 Revolution.
As in previous years, millions of Iranians took part across thousands of cities, towns, villages, and provincial capitals to mark the forty-seventh anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. According to unofficial sources, participation reached approximately 26 million people, nearly 28 percent of the country’s population, making it one of the largest public mobilizations in recent years.
Political observers describe the turnout as a “display of unity and resilience,” amid renewed military threats from the United States and Israel, which have returned to the center of regional developments in recent weeks.
Returning to the Roots of the Revolution
To assess the significance of the anniversary, analysts point to the origins of the 1979 Revolution, which led to the overthrow of the monarchy under Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi. Critics of the period argue that the Western-backed government banned political parties, labor unions, and independent media, while relying on the secret police, SAVAK, to carry out widespread repression of opponents.
Historical reports, including documents published by Amnesty International, detail systematic torture of political prisoners through methods such as flogging, electric shocks, and sexual violence. According to these accounts, the final years of the Pahlavi era were marked by nationwide protests and strikes that resulted in the deaths of thousands.
Leadership of the Revolution
In this context, Ruhollah Khomeini emerged as the Shah’s principal critic, opposing foreign dependence and agreements such as judicial immunity for U.S. military personnel. After years of exile, and following the Shah’s departure from Iran and the collapse of the interim government led by Shapour Bakhtiar, he returned to the country, paving the way for the establishment of a new political system.
In the April 1979 referendum, more than 90 percent of participants voted in favor of establishing the Islamic Republic. The founder’s popularity was such that the Funeral Procession for his body, attended by more than 10 million people, was recorded as one of the largest gatherings in modern history.
An Anniversary with a Political Message
This year, on the eve of the anniversary, large gatherings were also held in mosques and major squares, alongside fireworks displays at Tehran landmarks including Tabiat Bridge, Azadi Tower, and Milad Tower.
In a televised address, Iran’s Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Sayed Ali Khamenei, described the day as a “demonstration of the Iranian nation’s power and dignity,”, urging broad public participation to “disappoint the enemies.” He stressed that internal unity remains the primary response to foreign interference.
Tehran at the Center of the Gatherings
The capital witnessed the largest rally, with unofficial estimates placing attendance between three and four million people. Participants represented diverse social groups, from workers and farmers to students and university professors. Even some critics of the government joined the march, describing their presence as a defense of Iran’s territorial integrity.
At Azadi Square, segments of Iran’s military equipment—including missiles, drones, and armored vehicles—were put on display, a move observers interpreted as a deterrent message against external threats.
Media Reactions
President Masoud Pezeshkian attended the ceremony alongside senior political figures and military commanders, stating in his speech that Iran would not retreat in the face of “injustice and aggression”.
Around 200 foreign journalists covered the event. Patrick Henningsen of “21st Century Wire” described the rally as a “complete display of national solidarity,” adding that mainstream Western media would likely ignore it. Leith Marouf of “Free Palestine TV” also characterized the turnout as evidence of voluntary and popular participation.
Outlook
Analysts argue that the mass turnout at the anniversary, regardless of internal political differences, has sent a clear message to external actors about Iranian society’s sensitivity to foreign threats, a signal they say will not be without impact on regional and international calculations.
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