Iran celebrates 45th anniversary of Islamic Republic’s establishment

Iran celebrated the 45th anniversary of the establishment of the Islamic Republic on Sunday, with different governmental bodies renewing their pledge to protect the country’s national interests and strive to achieve the Islamic Revolution of 1979’s ideals.

The Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Sunday on the occasion of the Islamic Republic Day, which marks the holding of a 1979 historic referendum, in which Iranians voted overwhelmingly in favor of departure from monarchical rule weeks after the collapse of the US-backed Pahlavi regime.

“We renew our pledge to the visionary nation of Iran to safeguard national interests in international arenas with regard to the demands of Leader of the Islamic Revolution [Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei] and the foreign policy approach of the 13th administration in developing fair and balanced relations with various countries across the world,” the statement said.

The Foreign Ministry praised the two-day referendum on March 30-31, 1979 as a “unique epic” in the history of Iran and described the Islamic Republic as a role model in religion-based democracy.

The statement also extolled the valor and sacrifices of the honorable people of Iran in their years-long fight against the infamous Pahlavi regime.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said in a statement on Sunday that it is ready to play a role with other military, security and intelligence bodies to protect the country’s national interests, security, and independence, as well as the Islamic Revolution’s accomplishments.

It argued that the Islamic Republic has presented a new model of statecraft to the world that relies on Islam and democracy.

The IRGC will foil the enemy’s plots aimed at sowing discord in the Iranian society by tapping into national capacities and capabilities, it added.

The Defense Ministry also issued a statement on the occasion, saying it strives to make the Islamic Republic more powerful.

It said most of the world’s scholars acknowledge the end of imperialistic unilateralism as well as the manifestation of a new power in the heart of the Muslim world.

More than 98.2 percent of eligible Iranians voted “yes” for the establishment of an Islamic Republic across the country in the 1979 landmark referendum.

The vote, which was held less than two months after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, is considered a turning point in the modern history of Iran.

The Islamic Republic was established in Iran in line with the popular motto of the 1979 Islamic Revolution that called for “Independence, Freedom and the Islamic Republic” for the country.

Since then, the nation annually celebrates Farvardin 12 on the Iranian calendar as the Islamic Republic Day.

The Islamic Revolution, led by the late Imam Khomeini, culminated in the overthrow of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and put an end to 2,500 years of monarchical rule in Iran.

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