In the capital Tehran, hundreds of thousands of people and officials descended on the iconic Azadi Square, where Iran's President Hassan Rouhani called for "a year of unity" in a speech broadcast across the country.
"I request that the 40th year of the revolution, the coming year, be the year of unity. I ask principlists, reformists, moderates and all parties and all people to come and be together," he said.
Each year on the 22nd of the month of Bahman on the Persian calendar, Iranians turn out to renew their allegiance to the Islamic establishment and Imam Khomeini, the late founder of the Islamic Republic.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says massive participation of the Iranian people in nationwide rallies marking the 39th anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution gave a firm and crushing response to foreigners and enemies.
Describing people’s massive participation in the revolution anniversary rallies as a great and dazzling incident, Ayatollah Khamenei said, “The grandeur of your demonstration today, which according to accurate estimates was more crowded than previous years, gave a firm and crushing response to foreigners and enemies and those with a weak resolve.”
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