People flooded Tehran’s Freedom Square as they celebrated the 40th anniversary of the 1979 ousting of the monarchy. Anti-US sentiment was on show with some demonstrators chanting “death to America” and burning US flags.
Hundreds of thousands of Iranians took to the streets of the capital Tehran on Monday to mark the 40th anniversary of the Islamic revolution, when Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini ousted the Shah’s last government.
The march is the culmination of official celebrations called the “10 Day Dawn” that marks the period in February 1979 when the revolution’s leader Khomeini returned from exile and toppled the monarchy.
Downtown Enghelab, or Revolution Street, was decorated with giant balloons and loudspeakers blasted revolutionary and nationalist songs to encourage people to join the rallies. Fireworks displays were also held across Tehran on Sunday night.