Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Sunday, Jun 01, 2025

Iranians rally for 42nd anniversary of revolution

Iranians rally for 42nd anniversary of revolution

Thousands of Iranians drove through the capital Tehran on Wednesday to mark 42 years since the Islamic revolution, but stayed in vehicles rather than marching on foot amid pandemic restrictions.
Due to Covid-19, state television said that this year there should be "no gathering or marching" to celebrate the 1979 overthrow of the shah's regime.

Instead, people travelled by cars, motorcycles and bicycles, to gather in Tehran's iconic Azadi Square.

Some had painted their cars in the red, white and green colours of the Iranian flag. People chanted the slogan "Death to America" from vehicle windows.

"Only the form... has changed this year, not its nature," said a correspondent on state television, which broadcast footage of similar rallies in other major cities, including Shiraz, Qom, Isfahan and Mashhad.

Protesters carried portraits of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as well as Iran's revered General Qasem Soleimani, killed in an American airstrike in Baghdad in January 2020.

Replica ballistic missiles and Iranian-made military equipment were also paraded.

The coronavirus has infected nearly 1.5 million people in Iran and killed more than 58,000, according to the health ministry.

Iran, which has a population of over 80 million, is the country hardest hit by the pandemic in the region.

It began its Covid-19 vaccination campaign on Tuesday, using Russia's Sputnik V jab.

Alongside the pandemic, Iran remains mired in an economic crisis, triggered by the decision of former US president Donald Trump to withdraw from a landmark 2015 nuclear deal and reimpose crippling sanctions from 2018.

The administration of US President Joe Biden -- who was inaugurated last month -- has expressed willingness to return to the deal, but has insisted that Tehran first resume full compliance.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday praised citizens for "their patience in the face of three years of suffering" due to Trump's "maximum pressure" policies, including economic sanctions.

"The era of maximum sanctions is over, the era of economic warfare is over," Rouhani said in a televised speech, adding that "everyone has realised that maximum pressure has failed".

Biden has said he won't lift sanctions against Iran as long as the Islamic republic is not adhering to its nuclear deal commitments.

But Iran demands sanctions are lifted before it return to its commitments.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
UAE Offers Free ChatGPT Plus Subscriptions to Citizens
Lebanon Initiates Plan to Disarm Palestinian Factions
Iran and U.S. Make Limited Progress in Nuclear Talks
The Daily Debate: The Fall of the Dollar — Strategic Reset or Economic Self-Destruction?
Trump Administration's Tariff Policies and Dollar Strategy Spark Global Economic Debate
OpenAI Acquires Jony Ive’s Startup for $6.5 Billion to Build a Revolutionary “Third Core Device”
Turkey Weighs Citizens in Public as Erdoğan Launches National Slimming Campaign
Saudi-Spanish Business Forum Commences in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia and Spain Sign MoU to Boost SME Sectors
UK Suspends Trade Talks with Israel Amid Gaza Offensive
Iran and U.S. Set for Fifth Round of Nuclear Talks Amid Rising Tensions
Russia Expands Military Presence Near Finland Amid Rising Tensions
Indian Scholar Arrested in Crackdown Over Pakistan Conflict Commentary
Israel Eases Gaza Blockade Amid Internal Dispute Over Military Strategy
President Biden’s announcement of advanced prostate cancer sparked public sympathy—but behind closed doors, Democrats are in panic
A Chinese company made solar tiles that look way nicer than regular panels!
Indian jet shootdown: the all-robot legion behind China’s PL-15E missiles
The Chinese Dragon: The True Winner in the India-Pakistan Clash
Australia's Venomous Creatures Contribute to Life-Saving Antivenom Programme
The Spanish Were Right: Long Working Hours Harm Brain Function
Did Former FBI Director Call for Violence Against Trump? Instagram Post Sparks Uproar
US and UAE Partner to Develop Massive AI Data Center Complex
Apple's $95 Million Siri Settlement: Eligible Users Have Until July 2 to File Claims
US and UAE Reach Preliminary Agreement on Nvidia AI Chip Imports
President Trump and Elon Musk Welcomed by Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim with Cybertruck Convoy
Strong Warning Issued: Do Not Use General Chatbots for Medical, Legal, or Educational Guidance
Saudi Arabia Emerges as Global Tech Magnet with U.S. Backing and Trump’s Visit
This was President's departure from Saudi Arabia. The Crown Prince personally escorted him back to the airport.
NVIDIA and Saudi Arabia Launch Strategic Partnership to Establish AI Centers
Trump Meets Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara in Historic Encounter
Trump takes a blow torch to the neocons and interventionists while speaking to the Saudis
US and Saudi Arabia Sign Landmark Agreements Across Multiple Sectors
Why Saudi Arabia Rolled Out a Purple Carpet for Donald Trump Instead of Red
Elon Musk Joins Trump Meeting in Saudi Arabia
Trump says it would be 'stupid' not to accept gift of Qatari plane
Quantum Computing Threatens Bitcoin Security
Michael Jordan to Serve as Analyst for NBA Games
×