A senior advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution has highlighted the people's role in helping foil hostile plots against the country.
"As the people ensured the victories of the Islamic Revolution and the eight-year war (1980-88 Iran-Iraq war) with their presence, they once again foiled the enemies' plots with their presence," Ali Akbar Velayati said in an interview with ISNA on Tuesday on the anniversary of the demonstrations on December 30, 2009 which were held to back the Islamic system.
On December 30, 2009, a large number of people took to the streets in Tehran and some other major cities to protest against the unrest which broke out following the 2009 presidential election and continued for about eight months. The demonstrations practically put to an end the unrest which was triggered by the claim that the election had been rigged.
Velayati also said, "The people showed that whenever the independence and dignity of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the pillars on which it was founded, namely (the principles of) an Islamic government as the first example of a religious democracy in the contemporary world, are in danger, they will enter the scene."
Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani also said at an open session of parliament on Monday that the December 30 demonstrations "ended the sedition movement in 2009".
