Islamic Revolution anniv. rallies to span ۱,۴۰۰ cities, draw ۷,۷۰۰ media personnel: Official

Kamal Khodadadeh, Deputy for Ceremonies and Provincial Affairs at the Islamic Propagation Coordination Council, announced at a press conference on Tuesday that these media personnel will cover the nationwide rallies held each year on the anniversary, which usually falls on February ۱۱.

This year, resident foreign media with around ۲۰۰ journalists and cameramen, and in total more than ۷,۷۰۰ domestic and international media personnel, will cover the ۲۲ Bahman ceremonies across the country, he said.

“Furthermore, all IRIB channels, including over ۳۵۰ news teams, all international broadcasting networks ... as well as all provincial networks ... will provide live news and visual coverage of the ceremonies,” Khodadadeh added.

 He noted that many radio and television networks from other countries, including ORF (Austria), NTV (Turkey), CBS News (USA), ORF (Austria), Al Mayadeen, Al Manar (Lebanon), Al Shams (Iraq), Al Jazeera, Al Iraqiya, RIA Novosti and RT News agencies (Russia), RTR (Luxembourg), RTL, APA and ZDF (Germany), EFE (Spain), CCTV and Xinhua (China), and Anadolu Agency (Turkey) are also prepared to broadcast news reports and would cover the rallies from the streets and the iconic Azadi Square in Tehran.

He, however, added that "we must not forget that we are mourning the blood of nearly ۲,۴۰۰ martyrs and almost ۳,۰۰۰ casualties in the country. The enemy sought to exploit the divisions that erupted and to break the people’s cohesion, because during the ۱۲-day war [in June last year],  unprecedented unity and sacred solidarity had emerged in the country,” Khodadadeh stressed.

Foreign-backed armed rioters and terrorists hijacked peaceful protests over economic grievances on January ۸ and ۹, causing widespread destruction of shops, government institutions, and public service facilities, and killing or injuring of thousands, including civilians and security forces.

Iranian authorities confirmed that American and Israeli spy agencies were directly involved, providing funding, training, and media support to the perpetrators. According to a statement last month by Iran’s Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs, a total of ۳,۱۱۷ people lost their lives during the riots, including ۲,۴۲۷ innocent civilians and security personnel.

“Of course, the enemy has once again begun boasting that it has multiple options, including military attack, on the table. But the Iranian people have shown in recent days that they also have many options, one of which is participating in the ۲۲ Bahman rallies,” Khodadadeh stressed.

He added that this year’s rallies for the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution would be held in ۱,۴۰۰ locations across the country.

On Wednesday, the ceremonies would begin at 9:30 a.m. local time from the planned routes, and nearly 3,000 journalists and photographers from Iran’s younger generations would capture the best scenes, Khodadadeh noted.

“In Tehran, the aerospace sector and some military institutions will display their achievements along the rally routes, some of which will be unveiled for the first time,” he added.

These rallies commemorate the Iranian people’s overthrow of the Pahlavi dictatorship, which had the full backing of the United States, in the winter of 1979.

Imam Khomeini returned from exile on February 1, 1979, receiving an enormous welcome from the public weeks after the shah’s departure in mid-January.

The downfall of the Pahlavi regime was sealed on February 11, 1979, when the military abandoned its allegiance to the shah and aligned itself with the Revolution.