Revolution anniversary

Iran demands Israel’s exclusion from the UN

Israel marked the 45th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution on Sunday. In a speech at the celebrations, President Ebrahim Raisi called for Israel to be expelled from the United Nations.

Israel had violated "400 declarations, resolutions and agreements" that had been concluded within the framework of "international organizations", said Raisi on Sunday in front of thousands of people on Freedom Square in the Iranian capital Tehran. Raisi called Israel's war against the radical Islamic Palestinian organization Hamas "a crime against humanity" - "and the supporters of this criminal regime are the USA and some Western countries". 

Iranian-made drones and missiles were on display around Freedom Square in Tehran. Some people also carried portraits of revolutionary leader Ayatollah Khomeini or supreme spiritual leader Ali Khamenei. Among other things, they chanted "Down with the USA" and "Down with Israel". Several Israeli and US flags were burning.

Most Iranians do not join in the celebrations
In February 1979, an uprising by the then revolutionary leader Ayatollah Khomeini led to the collapse of the monarchy. In recent years, the Iranian leadership's relationship with the West has deteriorated dramatically. The reasons for this are Tehran's controversial nuclear program, human rights violations and Iran's support for militant groups in the Middle East. The majority of Iranians are indifferent to Sunday's celebrations.