Iran Marks 44th Anniversary of Landmark Referendum

Date: 02 April 2023 - 22:06

News ID: ۱۱۳۵۸۰

TEHRAN – Iran on Saturday commemorated the 44th anniversary of the establishment of the Islamic Republic on the back of a historic referendum, in which Iranians voted overwhelmingly in favor of departure from monarchical rule weeks after the collapse of the US-backed Pahlavi regime.

In a landmark two-day referendum held on March 30-31, 1979, more than 98.2 percent of eligible Iranians voted “yes” for the establishment of an Islamic Republic in the country.

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 (April 1) on the Iranian calendar as the Islamic Republic Day.

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

In a statement on Saturday, the foeign ministry said Iran’s diplomatic apparatus renews its commitment to fully defend the Islamic Republic in various international arenas under the aegis of the guidelines of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

The ministry also vowed to raise the proud flag of Iran on the peaks of power and sustainable development in cooperation with the Iranian nation while observing the principles of dignity, wisdom and expediency in the field of foreign policy.

It hailed bravery of the Iranian people during the Sacred Defense against the Saddam regime’s eight-year invasion of Iran and their resistance in the face of the anti-human crimes of the sanctions regime against the country’s independence and self-reliance.