TEHRAN – Hundreds of thousands of Iranians rallied across Tehran and more than 900 cities nationwide on Tuesday to mark the anniversary of the 1979 U.S. Embassy takeover, an event observed in Iran as the National Day of Fighting Global Arrogance.
The rallies, which drew students, youth, clerics, families, and veterans of the 1980s Iraq war on Iran, were held amid heightened tensions following a 12-day confrontation with U.S. and Israeli forces in June, which left several Iranian civilians, military commanders, and nuclear scientists martyred.
Marchers carried Iranian flags and posters of those martyred in attacks by the U.S. and Israel while chanting slogans including “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.” 
The Tehran demonstration began at Palestine Square and proceeded toward the former U.S. Embassy, featuring speeches, religious chants, and cultural exhibitions depicting what officials described as decades of Western and Israeli “crimes.” 
Symbolic displays of Iranian missiles and centrifuges were presented along the route, while representations of U.S. and Israeli flags were burned.
A symbolic trial of U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu was also held during the march. 
Marchers pledged loyalty to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and vowed to uphold the values of the Islamic Revolution and the legacy of martyrs, particularly students and youth, as central to safeguarding Iran’s sovereignty.
Parliament Speaker Muhammad Bagher Ghalibaf told the crowd that the recent 12-day war revealed the enduring hostility of the United States, asserting that while tactics may have changed, the fundamental aim of preventing a strong, independent Iran remains. 
“The same mentality of the Carter administration is being repeated against the Iranian nation, with more advanced tools,” he said, referencing assassinations of Iranian scientists. “Their ultimate goal is nothing but blackmail and domination.”
Ghalibaf stressed that Iran’s 
response remains rooted in self-reliance, resistance, and preservation of sovereignty. 
He highlighted achievements in nuclear, nanotechnology, defense, and medical sciences, urging the nation to resist psychological warfare from Western media and foreign powers.
At the conclusion of the rallies, an official resolution was read, emphasizing that 13 Aban symbolizes national resistance to foreign domination and commemorates students and youth who pioneered the 1979 revolution. 
The statement reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to opposing U.S. and Israeli influence globally, supporting movements against foreign hegemony, and defending Palestinian rights. 
It called for unity around the leadership of Ayatollah Khamenei, safeguarding military and economic independence, and continuing scientific and technological self-sufficiency. Participants pledged loyalty to the Leader and vowed to uphold the values of the Islamic Revolution and the legacy of martyrs.
13 Aban, observed as both Student Day and the National Day of Anti-Arrogance, commemorates three key historical events in Iran’s modern history: the 1964 exile of Imam Khomeini to Turkey in protest against the U.S.-backed “capitulation law,” the 1978 killing of protesting students, and the 1979 U.S. Embassy takeover.
The day symbolizes national dignity, resistance, and defiance against foreign adversaries in Iranian collective memory. Officials stressed that the rallies serve as a reminder of Iran’s determination to safeguard its sovereignty, independence, and right to self-determination.
Echoing this sentiment, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei wrote on X that 13 Aban recalls these three defining events and underscores the Iranian nation’s determination to defend its independence, dignity, and right to self-determination. 
He noted that in a world where expansionism and arrogance are reproduced through military aggression, broken agreements, sanctions, economic pressure, and technological monopolies, the struggle against global arrogance takes the form of firm resistance, insistence on justice, intellectual independence, and the promotion of domestic scientific and technological progress.
“The memory and path of all those who stood for Iran’s independence, dignity, and freedom are honored,” Baghaei said.