A lady distributes placards with the photographs of Ali Khamenei (r) Iran’s present Supreme Leader, and Ayatollah Khomeini, the nation’s first Supreme Leader, in the course of the forty fourth anniversary of the revolution celebrations, in Tehran. The placard quotes Khamenei saying “We should appreciate this revolution. We keep it on track to its goals and help it reach more valuable goals.”

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A lady distributes placards with the photographs of Ali Khamenei (r) Iran’s present Supreme Leader, and Ayatollah Khomeini, the nation’s first Supreme Leader, in the course of the forty fourth anniversary of the revolution celebrations, in Tehran. The placard quotes Khamenei saying “We should appreciate this revolution. We keep it on track to its goals and help it reach more valuable goals.”

Marjan Yazdi for NPR

TEHRAN — On Friday, the eve of the forty fourth anniversary of the Iranian Islamic Revolution, celebratory fireworks lit up Tehran’s evening sky. Within minutes, the present was interrupted with cries of “freedom” “death to the dictator” and “death to Khamenei,” Iran’s supreme chief, ringing from house home windows. Then, chants of “God is great” as supporters of the regime chimed in.

The second demonstrated the divisions enjoying out in Iran, 5 months after the loss of life of Mahsa Amini. The anti-government chants are the identical ones shouted at protests that shook the nation within the wake of Amini’s loss of life in police custody in September. She had been detained after the so-called morality police accused her of sporting improper apparel, or not overlaying her hair. Iranians rose up in anger, demanding change and a cease to what they name the regime’s oppression of its residents and mismanagement of the financial system.

The authorities’s brutal crackdown on the protests — which, in keeping with the U.N. Human Rights workplace, has included the detention of 1000’s, and the executions of not less than 4 individuals up to now — seems to have largely succeeded in scaring dissenters off the streets. Rights teams additionally declare safety forces have killed a whole lot of demonstrators. So, beneath a veneer of normalcy, grievances fester.

Beginning days earlier than Revolution Day, Iranian cities had been draped within the purple, white and inexperienced colours of the Iranian flag. Fresh posters went up with the faces of Ayatollahs Khomeini and Khamenei, the primary and present supreme leaders of Iran, respectively. On Saturday, large crowds turned out for a rally that poured into Tehran’s Azadi Square. The message from Iran’s leaders: Everything is below management, and Iran is united.

Women maintain up indicators depicting the picture of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died whereas within the custody of Iranian authorities, throughout an illustration denouncing her loss of life by Iraqi and Iranian Kurds exterior the U.N. workplaces in Arbil, the capital of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan area, on Sept. 24, 2022.

Safin Hamed/AFP through Getty Images

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Women maintain up indicators depicting the picture of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died whereas within the custody of Iranian authorities, throughout an illustration denouncing her loss of life by Iraqi and Iranian Kurds exterior the U.N. workplaces in Arbil, the capital of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan area, on Sept. 24, 2022.

Safin Hamed/AFP through Getty Images

Other Iranians skipped the celebrations and stayed residence on Saturday.

Asked his plans for Revolution Day, one carpet vendor within the metropolis of Isfahan, replied, “Sleep.” Like many individuals on this story, he spoke on the situation that he not be recognized, due to the dangers of publicly criticizing the regime. Those discussing the federal government additionally typically did not wish to be photographed.

Iranian clergy encourage the group to hitch them in singing a political track widespread with conservatives within the nation.

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Iranian clergy encourage the group to hitch them in singing a political track widespread with conservatives within the nation.

Marjan Yazdi for NPR

Many really feel the revolution has not delivered on its promise

In 1979, a number of factions of Iranian society, together with secularists, Islamists and leftists, had been united in opposition to the rule of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The Shah got here to energy after a 1953 coup d’etat — instigated by the United States and Britain — which overthrew the earlier, democratically elected management. Supporters of the 1979 revolution hoped to carry a democratic system again to Iran. The Shah was generally known as a ruthless autocratic chief and used torture and executions to stifle dissent. Today, critics accuse the Islamic Republic that took energy after the revolution of comparable ways.

Still, many Iranians who specific ambivalence in regards to the regime nonetheless revere the revolution itself. Mortaza, a 63-year-old college professor, joined the celebrations in Tehran on Saturday. “I didn’t come for Mr. Khamenei,” he mentioned. “I came for the revolution.”

Even although he is essential of the federal government, particularly the therapy of Mahsa Amini, he mentioned it was necessary that Iran is impartial and sovereign.

A person holds an Iranian flag throughout a parade in western Tehran.

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A person holds an Iranian flag throughout a parade in western Tehran.

Marjan Yazdi for NPR

But others who believed within the revolution in 1979, as we speak look again with remorse.

“The celebration is losing its color,” mentioned a 53-year-old girl strolling together with her father within the metropolis of Isfahan, the day earlier than the anniversary. Her father opposed the Shah, and when she would repeat the propaganda she discovered in grade college, he’d gently clarify Iran’s many issues.

He was 43 years outdated when the Islamic Revolutionaries took energy.

“At the time we were very happy, but we paid a price,” mentioned her father. He misplaced a son within the Iran-Iraq warfare that adopted.

“We were tricked. They were false promises.”

The household had no plans to rejoice the anniversary.

Incense from the burning of untamed rue seeds known as Esphand in Persian wafts over the group throughout Revolution Day celebrations in Tehran.

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Incense from the burning of untamed rue seeds known as Esphand in Persian wafts over the group throughout Revolution Day celebrations in Tehran.

Marjan Yazdi for NPR

Dissent continues to simmer in Iran, however opinions differ on latest protests

Even on the Revolution Day rally in Tehran, individuals who supported the regime expressed grievances in opposition to specific insurance policies. Maryam, a homemaker, was strolling to Azadi Square in a loosely donned cobalt blue scarf, and instructed NPR that she needed many modifications, together with across the hijab, a non secular apply that the regime made necessary for girls in 1983.

Iranian ladies be part of the celebrations marking Revolution Day in Tehran.

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Iranian ladies be part of the celebrations marking Revolution Day in Tehran.

Marjan Yazdi for NPR

“People who don’t want to wear the hijab, or want to wear it in their own way should be allowed to do as they wish,” she mentioned. “But that doesn’t mean we don’t support the Islamic Republic or that we want it to change.”

Maryam was born the yr of the Islamic Revolution, however she has by no means been to any of the celebrations marking the day.

“This year I felt that it is necessary,” she mentioned. “Because of the violent protests that took place, I feared that there might be a civil war.”

A 21-year-old school pupil who spoke with NPR the day earlier than Revolution Day mentioned that the campus protests she had taken half in after Mahsa Amini’s loss of life had been peaceable: “Not setting on fire things, not breaking down anything. Just walking and telling our rights.”

Like many Iranians, she had difficult views in regards to the regime. She did not plan to rejoice the anniversary of the Revolution, and would not help Iran’s leaders. But she additionally mentioned she respects them.

She desires change, however feels the protest motion lacks a frontrunner: “I mean an actual leader, who loves people.”

Still, regardless of the regime’s crackdown, she says the protests aren’t over. Activists are nonetheless spreading messages on-line by social media.

“Teenagers and other people are back home and not coming out anymore, but it is not completely finished,” she mentioned.

“It’s hard. Our government won’t go easily. But we will replace them.”

Fear of international intervention persists

The crowd parades by the western a part of Tehran, the Alborz mountain vary within the distance.

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The crowd parades by the western a part of Tehran, the Alborz mountain vary within the distance.

Marjan Yazdi for NPR

As the lots made their approach to Azadi Square, nationalist and spiritual songs had been performed, the crowds chanted reverent slogans for Supreme Leader Khamenei and the Revolution. Some of their favourite mottos had been “death to America” and “death to Israel” as they displayed banners with the identical phrases.

Just a few individuals who noticed NPR journalists doing interviews took pains to elucidate that the slogans had been in opposition to America’s politics, not its individuals. “We love you,” one man mentioned.

A lady in her 50s implored in English: “Please, please, please be honest. Be honest.” When requested what it was she needed NPR to know, she mentioned: “The reality. The reality. This is the reality,” she answered, pointing towards the sq..

The regime has argued that protests, which they’ve known as “riots”, had been inspired by “outside forces.” There was a worry amongst many within the crowd that the US desires to intervene in Iranian affairs once more, because it did within the 1953 coup.

“We want to protect our country from all the invasions all over the world,” mentioned Fatemah, a 41-year-old girl. She wore a black chador — an open cloak worn by many conservative ladies in Iran. “And the most important country that has invaded our country is your country. Anything bad happening for our country is from the United States unfortunately.”

Parade goers show a pro-government signal written in Farsi.

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Parade goers show a pro-government signal written in Farsi.

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Iran’s hardline president Ebrahim Raisi gave a speech on the sq., which piped over loud audio system. It was briefly hacked because it streamed on-line, by a bunch that encourages individuals to maintain protesting.

A person chants anti-U.S. and anti-Israeli slogans in Tehran.

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A person chants anti-U.S. and anti-Israeli slogans in Tehran.

Majan Yazdi for NPR

In his speech, Raisi alluded to the protests and mentioned they had been a mission of Iran’s enemies.

“Those who have been deceived by the enemy now know that the enemy’s issue is neither woman, nor life nor freedom,” he mentioned, a nod to the principle slogan of the protest motion.

And there are blended emotions from ladies in Iran. “I’m very proud to be a woman in Iran and living in Tehran in an Islamic country, and I’m very happy,” Fatemah mentioned. “Yes, there are problems here, and there are many problems in other countries but we should build our own country, others should not decide for us.”

Iranians need financial modifications

One factor virtually all Iranians are united on, irrespective of their political leanings, is that the federal government must do extra to repair the nation’s sputtering financial system. Inflation is excessive, and the Iranian rial lately tanked even additional in opposition to the greenback after the protests. Combined with U.S. sanctions, Iranians say they will now not afford primary wants.

Seyed, a 33-year-old man who was born in Iran, however spent most of his life overseas in English-speaking nations, mentioned the financial system is the explanation why he determined to hitch the rally.

A lady holds a photograph of Qasem Soleimani, an Iranian navy commander who served within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

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“I’m definitely here to support Iran and I’m definitely here to tell the government that we need to do some serious changes, especially when it comes to the economy,” he mentioned. Adding that the federal government must prioritize insurance policies that permit “the average Iranian to have an ordinary life.”

A 21-year-old girl strolling with a poster of Ayatollah Khamenei instructed NPR that she loves the supreme chief.

“He is wise, a good leader and very lovely,” she mentioned.

But as an economics pupil in school, she’s anxious in regards to the nation.

“We want similar things from the government [as the protesters did], especially when it comes to the economy, but we don’t believe in setting fire to the country,” she mentioned.

Mixed predictions on the regime’s long-term survival

The nationwide occasions on Saturday served to mission that the federal government is in management, after a number of tumultuous months, during which critics and analysts alike questioned whether or not one other revolution might be close to.

Iranians who spoke to NPR had completely different opinions on the place their nation is headed.

Asked if she although the regime would nonetheless be round in one other 44 years, the 53-year-old girl in Isfahan, who was a toddler below the Shah’s regime, mentioned “Never, never.”

“Because the youth of our country are so much awake and there is the sense of freedom in them,” she mentioned. “I don’t think it will last for another two years.”

Women rejoice Revolution Day in Tehran.

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Women rejoice Revolution Day in Tehran.

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65-year-old Mohammed Reza, who was strolling in Tehran’s rally, mentioned the federal government and the revolution are separate issues.

“Each government comes and goes,” he mentioned. “What is important is Iran and the Islamic Revolution, born with the blood of the martyrs.”

Several individuals on the rally pointed to different nations within the area, like Libya and Iraq, which struggled after authoritarian leaders had been faraway from energy.

For Seyed, the Iranian who lived overseas, the scenario could be very clear.

“If anything happens to this government or this revolution, what comes next is definitely worse,” he mentioned.

The parade ended at Azadi Square in Tehran, a 30 minute stroll from Sadeghieh Square, the place it began round 9am on Feb. 11.

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The parade ended at Azadi Square in Tehran, a 30 minute stroll from Sadeghieh Square, the place it began round 9am on Feb. 11.

Marjan Yazdi for NPR