President Hassan Rouhani said Iranians will never forget US "betrayals" and will give a "strong response" to threats by their enemies, as Iranians rallied across the country in large numbers to commemorate the 38th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution that toppled the US-backed autocratic regime.
Addressing a massive public gathering at Tehran's Azadi Square, President Rouhani said, "Unfortunately, some inexperienced figures have taken the helm in the world, particularly in the US [and threaten Iran]… [They] should know that they must talk to the Iranian people with the language of respect and dignity."
He was referring to new US President Donald Trump, whose anti-Iran Twitter tirades since his Jan. 20 inauguration have sparked deep anger among Iranians.
"We are not seeking tensions ... but those who threaten the Iranian government and armed forces should know that this nation is united and aware, and will resist the ill-wishers until the end," Rouhani was quoted as saying by his official website.
The president said the revolution was the victory of "word over bullet and blood over violence", and marked the beginning of freedom and independence for the Iranian people from "imperialist" powers.
"The Iranian government and nation will continue to follow the path of revolution ... until they achieve all of its noble ideals," he said.
High-ranking government officials and military commanders participated in the rally, reliving the memory of their hard-fought, decades-long battle under the leadership of the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic.
The rallies have traditionally displayed anti-American sentiments, as the US was the main backer of the former despotic king and saved his throne by co-orchestrating a 1953 coup against the democratically-elected government of prime minister, Mohammed Mosaddeq.
***Anti-Trump Sentiment
"Death to Trump" placards carried by many marchers signaled that the focus of this year's rallies was the tycoon-turned-politician.
In his first weeks in the White House, Trump has called Iran the "terrorist state number one" and warned that he had put the Islamic Republic "on notice" over a Jan. 29 ballistic missile test.
His administration has imposed fresh sanctions on some individuals and entities allegedly linked to Iran's missile activities, claiming the test was against the spirit of a UN resolution, which "calls upon" Iran to refrain from testing missiles "designed" to carry nuclear warheads.
This is while the resolution's language is non-obligatory and Iran has no nuclear weapons.
In addition to chanting the regular anti-US and anti-Israel slogans, some demonstrators carried placards in English that read, "Down with US regime, long live US people" and "Thanks to American people for supporting Muslims".
These were referring to popular protests in major US cities in recent days against an executive order by Trump banning Iranian citizens from entering the US for 90 days.
The executive order, which also covers nationals from six other Muslim-majority states, is currently suspended by US courts.
Some people carried banners that said, "An Iranian does not fear threat", a reference to Tuesday's statements by the Leader of Islamic Revolution that the American president intends to scare Iranians but "no enemy can paralyze this great nation".
Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei also said Trump had to be thanked for "lessening Iran's burden" by confirming what it has been saying for "38 years" about the corruption in the US establishment and revealing the "real face" of the country.
Add new comment
Read our comment policy before posting your viewpoints