IRAN Looking at Vienna, Tehran celebrates the 43rd anniversary of the Islamic revolution
A party in a minor tone for the restrictions related to the Covid-19 pandemic. In the “red” cities only parades aboard cars and motorcycles, while in the country it presents infections linked to Omicron. From the US cautious optimism about an agreement “in sight”. But Iranian President Raisi dampens the enthusiasm: “No hope”.
Tehran (AsiaNews) – Iranians today celebrate 43 years since the revolution led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, which led to the fall of the Shah Reza Pahlevi and the foundation of a republic founded on Shiite Islam. A party also this year in a minor tone due to the infections of Covid-19, on the increase in recent weeks due to the Omicron variant. In addition, the management’s attention is paid to negotiation ongoing in Vienna on nuclear power, which could bring about a turning point in an economy sunk by international sanctions.
These thousands of cars and motorcycles crossed the streets of Tehran to celebrate the Islamic revolution of 1979 in the morning. Compared to past years, for the second consecutive time few have joined the celebrations by marching on foot for fear of being hit by the new coronavirus in a phase in which the pandemic is still active. In the processions started in different points, and then converged as always in Azadi square where in the afternoon, during the Friday prayer rites, President Ebrahim Raisi will give a speech to the nation.
The anniversary coincides with the new round of talks on Iranian nuclear power, resumed on 8 February in Vienna after a few weeks of stalemate and around which moderate (and very cautious) optimism reigns. In recent days, White House spokesman Jen Psaki said the agreement “is in sight” but warned at the same time that “if it is not reached in the weeks together, Tehran’s nuclear progress” will make it “impossible” to sign. in the future . To dampen the enthusiasm the same Iranian president Raisi who, in a video message released today, said he had “no hope” in the talks and did not believe “in Vienna and New York”.
Returning to the celebrations, the demonstrators waved Iranian flags and chanted the usual slogans and chants, as well as signs, including “death to America” and “death to Israel” which, on these occasions, never fail. Marches and carousels involved 1,500 cities, over 3,000 villages, 60,000 mosques and 40,000 bases of the Basij militias (linked to the Pasdaran) scattered throughout the territory. In the “red” cities due to Covid restrictions, only car and motorcycle parades were held. In those categories of yellow or blue there were also walking processions, respecting the safety protocols and – as far as possible – the distance between the participants.
Health authorities say the Omicron variant is now prevalent in Iran and hospitals are on alert for a possible wave of infections and hospitalizations. With over 130,000 victims recorded – but the real toll could be far – the higher Islamic Republic holds the sad record of the largest number of deaths caused by Covid in the east since the beginning of the global health emergency. Tehran says it has vaccinated around 80% of the population over 18 years of age with the two doses, although only 27% also received the booster.