Millions of Iranians have taken to the streets on the 35th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in demonstrations across the country.
Over 1,500 domestic and 194 foreign reporters are covering the Bahman 22 (February 11) rallies.
In Tehran, demonstrators congregated at the Azadi Square, Tehran's main square and the site of major national rallies over the past three decades.
People in different cities carried a number of banners and placards saying they are ready for confrontation against the US.
Some of the banners read “We are eager for 'the options on the table'”, a clear reference to the US officials worn-out phrase when dealing with Iran. Others say “We are ready for the great battle”, again a reference to Washington officials' repeated threats of military action against Iran.
Yet, the signs are more seen as a direct response to the provocative statements and war rhetoric of the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, and his Under-Secretary Wendy Sherman, who have both repeatedly stated that Washington’s options for dealing with Iran have been kept on the table despite the recent deal between Tehran and the six world powers. The Washington rhetoric has also received wide condemnation from the Iranian officials as well.
The Iranian military and government officials have warned that in case of any military aggression against the country, Tehran’s response will be inconceivable.
On November 24, Iran and the Group 5+1 (the US, Russia, China, Britain and France plus Germany) sealed a six-month Joint Plan of Action to lay the groundwork for the full resolution of the West’s decade-old dispute with Iran over its nuclear energy program. In exchange for Tehran’s confidence-building bid to limit certain aspects of its nuclear activities, the Sextet of world powers agreed to lift some of the existing sanctions against Tehran and continue talks with the country to settle all problems between the two sides.
After Iran and the world powers struck a deal in November, the US Treasury Department imposed fresh sanctions against companies and individuals for their business links with Iran.
The US Treasury Department said the targeted entities operated in Turkey, Spain, Germany, Georgia, Afghanistan, Iran, Liechtenstein and the United Arab Emirates.
Also, Washington officials have been making increasing provocative remarks against Iran and the deal since November. Kerry said in an interview in Geneva in January that the military option was still on the table if Iran did not live up to its nuclear commitments under the Geneva deal.
In response, a large number of Iranian officials have warned of the dire repercussions of such remarks by Washington officials. Lieutenant Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Brigadier General Hossein Salami warned that the slightest military move by the US will be reciprocated by Iran's harshest response, underlining that Iran's reaction would "recognize no boundary".
