Alwaght- Five years ago the former US National Security Advisor John Bolton claimed that the Islamic Republic in Iran will not celebrate its fortieth anniversary, and this year the nation held the 44th anniversary of its Islamic Revolution, with millions of Iranians pouring to the streets to renew their allegiance to the late founder of Islamic Revolution Imam Khomeini and his thoughts. The anniversary rallies, officially called 22 Bahman Rallies, this year were held while since September last year the West has been inciting riots in some Iranian cities and backing the rioters in a bid to cut the number of the participants in the rallies. However, their plot failed and people responded decisively to the enemies, promising that they remain loyal to their Revolution ideals and economic and political pressures cannot create gaps between the people and the government. Given the fact that all eyes were set on this year’s rallies to measure the legitimacy of the Islamic Republic political system, many media outlets from the West and East covered the event.
Publishing pictures of the rallies and celebrations, the Russian news agency Sputink reported that the Emad ballistic missile and the Shahid 136 drone were displayed in Tehran’s Azadi Square, where all routes of the rallies meet. Also, Russian broadcaster RT reported that a large march was held in Tehran and other provinces on the last day of the national celebrations marking the 44th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, and some officials of the former governments in Tehran participated in the event. RT also pointed to the demonstration of Sejeel and Emad ballistic missile, Shahed 136 and Mohajer 6 drones, cruise missiles, and other Iranian-made defense equipment.
Arab media coverage
Foreign media, some present in Tehran to cover the rallies and broadcast the event live, brought the rallies in spotlight since the early hours.
Lebanon’s Al-Mayadeen news network reported that the massive rallies were underway in 38,000 villages and 1,400 cities across Iran. The report, pointing to the missiles put to public show in Tehran, said that the people turnout was enormous and just one of the rallies was reported to be 12-km long. The news network also covered an address by President Sayyed Ibrahim Raeisi live.
Also, Lebanon’s Al-Ahd news website covered the rallies, suggesting that they are held in 1400 cities. It also covered speech of President Raeisi.
Yemen’s Almasirah news network was another foreign TV to cover the event and the president’s speech.
Covering the culmination of the Islamic Revolution anniversary, Lebanon’s Al-Manar TV reported that Iran showed off its military power during the rallies. Publishing a video of the missiles and drones, the news network wrote on its website that “Iran displayed missiles and drones including Emad, Shahed 136, and Muhajer 6.” The news network published videos of the masses and reported that people renewed their allegiance to the Leader and Islamic Revolution.
Furthermore, the Lebanese LBC channel broadcast images of the rallies in Tehran and reported that tens of thousands of Iranians in the capital and other cities marked the anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution despite recent anti-revolution riots that were carried out with the support of Western countries. LBC further reported that the participants waved the Iranian flag and chanted the slogans “Death to America” and “Death to Israel”, the two sworn enemies of the Islamic Republic, and in Azadi Square, Iran’s military products, including the Sejjil ballistic missile and the Shahed 136 drone, were displayed.
Al-Nashrah news website of Lebanon wrote that thousands of people marched towards Azadi Square in Tehran and chanted “Death to America” and “Death to Israel”.
Shafaq news, reporting start of the rallies, published speech of President Raeisi.
Al-Ahd TV of Iraq reported “people’s loyalty to the Islamic Republic” despite “foes’ efforts to create a sedition.”
Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) published images of the rallies and described the turnout in “millions”, adding that people once again voiced their support to the Islamic Republic.
Yemen’s Ansarullah news website described the turnout “remarkable” in the capital and other provinces. The outlet continued that this year’s celebrations were considerable specifically after the defeat of the plots designed by thr West through street riots and political and media support to the rioters who targeted the national security and unity.
Yemen’s Sabanet news agency was another outlet to publish images of the rallies.
Egyptian media outlets like Al-Asemah and Youm 7 published reports from Tehran rallies, too.
“The people of Iran held a rallies on the occasion of the 44th anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Tehran and other provinces of Iran, and current and former statesmen were present together with the people,” Youm 7 reported.
In addition to Arab media, this year’s rallies were covered by Israeli media. i24 News network reported that like every year, the people chanted “Down with America” and “Down with Israel” and “Down with England” and called for support to a “strong, united, and stable Iran.”
“Sejjil missile and Shahed 136 drones were showed off in Azadi Square.
Western media coverage
Despite being apparently biased in line with their leaders against Iran and have been fueling the riots in recent months, the Western media declined to ignore the epic turnout in the anniversary rallies.
In its report on the celebration of the Islamic Revolution, the AP reported that the Iranians celebrated the 44th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution and Emad and Sejjil ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and Shahid 136 and Mohajer drones were displayed. This news agency also covered the president’s address.
“In a speech at Azadi Square in the capital Tehran, President Ebrahim Raeisi referred to the protests as a project by Iran’s enemies aimed at stopping the nation from continuing its achievements, AP wrote in a report, adding: “Raeisi called the celebration “epic” and a show of “national integrity” while praising post-revolution achievements in the country.”
The Reuters, another major Western news agency, brought in spotlight the Saturday rallies marking the Islamic Revolution. It also covered the president’s speech and display of Iranian-made missiles.
AFP reported that despite cold weather, people took to the streets to join the significant rallies that culminated in symbolic Azadi Street.
“They chanted down with America, down with Israel, down with England, and down with the traitor Al Saud,” reported the AFP.
It continued:“Sejjil ballistic missiles and Shahed 136 drones were on display around the square where President Ebrahim Raeisi said people had gathered to renew their “allegiance” to the revolution.”
“People held up pictures of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as well as the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic republic, and revered general Qasem Soleimani, killed in a US air strike at Baghdad airport in January 2020,” the report went on.
“We stand to the end”, “A united, strong and stable Iran” and “We obey the leader,” AFP quoted the people as saying.
Turnout of millions in the Islamic Revolution anniversary demonstrated that people are loyal to the revolution’s ideals and Islam, and this sent an important message to the West, telling the Western leaders that from now on they should not count on some Western-based notorious opposition figures and rioters to subvert the Islamic Republic.
