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Iran celebrates 40 years since revolution with Khomeini return
TEHRAN, Feb 1, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Thousands of Iranians gathered at the
mausoleum of the Islamic republic’s founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in
Tehran on Friday to launch celebrations for the 40th anniversary of its
revolution.
The ceremonies for the 1979 revolution started at 9:33 am (0603 GMT), the
exact time that Khomeini returned to Iran and his plane touched down at
Tehran airport, AFP correspondents said.
As an army band played revolutionary anthems, the huge hall of the
mausoleum was filled with people from all walks of life, amid schoolchildren
dressed in the red, white and green of the Iranian flag.
Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, head of the influential experts assembly which
appoints the supreme leader of the Islamic republic, delivered a keynote
speech rebuking factions seeking better ties with Washington.
“Curses on the wrong school of thought that thinks we can’t run the
country unless America helps us,” he said, shaking a raised left hand.
“America’s power is on the decline, we should not be afraid of America,”
Jannati said.
On February 1 each year, Iran begins 10 days of celebrations to mark the
anniversary of Khomeini’s return from exile after the pro-Western shah fled
Iran following widespread demonstrations.
The celebrations culminate on 11 February which marks the fall of 2,500
years of monarchy in Iran.
BSS/AFP/MR/1500 hrs