Leader Lauds Iranians for Epic Participation at Revolution Anniversary Rallies

A large group of people from Iran’s East Azarbaijan Province met with Ayatollah Khamenei on Wednesday ahead of the anniversary of Tabriz Popular Uprising on February 18, 1978.

In the meeting, held at the Imam Khomeini Hussainyah of Tehran, the Leader praised the Iranian people’s valuable move to attend the Bahman 22nd demonstrations across the country marking the anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution.

“This real, passionate and meaningful epic is the result of the nation’s persistence and not getting deviated from the path of the Revolution,” the Leader said.

“This path of progress and power will continue with national unity and with a revolutionary perspective toward problems, that is, relying on the efforts that brought about the achievements of the Revolution," Ayatollah Khamenei added.

The Leader hailed the people’s “invaluable” presence during the rallies on the 22nd of Bahman despite the enemies’ massive propaganda campaign, the problems faced by the people, the cold weather and other discouraging factors.

“People with faith and insight ignored all these and came together from east to west and from north to south of beloved Iran and raised their voice so that everyone could hear,” he said, adding that only God is able to really appreciate this great national movement.

Ayatollah Khamenei referred to “the nation’s historic Saturday” as an example of the continuation of national persistence and once again drew comparisons between the Islamic Revolution of Iran and other revolutions which gradually deviated from their ideals, saying, “In the Islamic Revolution, too, some people turned away from the direct path of the Revolution due to various reasons, and they eventually acted against the principles and ideals of the Revolution.”

“Contrary to these elements, the nation continued the straight path without feeling fatigued and despair and without fearing the enemy’s blows, threats and screams, while preserving its identity, character and greatness,” he said, Khamenei.ir reported.

“In this path, (the nation) came to the streets across the entire country on the 22nd of Bahman of this year and, with different motivations, showed its meaningful perseverance and stubbornness against the enemy.”

The Leader pointed out that the enemy and some elements inside the country are making efforts to weaken the determination of the Iranian nation in an attempt to make the people forget the path of the Revolution.

“One of the important goals of the autumn riots was to make the people forget the 22nd of Bahman. Inside the country, some were following the same line in the newspapers and on social media with weak arguments and incorrect statements. The people, however, disappointed them,” he added.

The people’s attendance and analysis were some of the characteristics of the magnificent 22nd of Bahman rally that the Leader applauded. “It was clear from people’s interviews that they attended the march with an analytical mind. And because they understood that the US is fearful of their attendance, they demonstrated their actual orientation, which is to fully support the Islamic Revolution and the system of the Islamic Republic with passion, exuberance, motivation and meaningful slogans,” he said.

Ayatollah Khamenei added that the American and Zionist media empires are attempting to prevent this loud voice from reaching the ears of other nations. However, those who need to hear it, that is, the policy makers in the US and England and the enemy’s spy agencies have definitely heard this voice.

The Leader of the Revolution also pointed out the propaganda uproar that took place on social media and the enemy’s media outlets on the eve of the 22nd of Bahman. “There were opposing voices that these media outlets tried to magnify, but the voice and call of the nation prevailed over all other voices,” he stated.

The Leader also spoke about "clarifying the falseness and weakness of the enemies’ claims about the Islamic Republic."

"Sometimes they blatantly lie and say that the government is regressing, while the country, despite its problems, has completely changed from the way it was two or three decades ago. It has made great progress. Sometimes they say that the Islamic Republic has reached a dead end. When someone reaches an impasse, they will fall to the ground on their own. So, if this claim is correct, then why are you spending so much to knock them down?" the Leader stated.