Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian apologized to “all those affected” by the nationwide protests and the violent crackdown that followed, expressing regret for the “great grief” of citizens, without directly acknowledging Iranian security forces’ responsibility for the bloodshed. “We are ashamed before the people, and we are obliged to help all those who have been harmed in these incidents,” Pezeshkian said, adding that his country does not seek confrontation with citizens.
The statement came as Iran marked the 47th anniversary of its 1979 Islamic Revolution, with the country facing domestic and external pressure. US President Donald Trump has suggested deploying another group of ships to the Middle East, as the public continues to oppose the violent suppression of national protests.
Iran is still in negotiations with the United States over its nuclear program, but it remains unclear whether a deal will be reached. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been unable to inspect and verify the country's nuclear stockpiles for months.
WHEREASOn the day of the commemoration, Iranian authorities broadcast images of tens of thousands of citizens marching in support of the theocracy and the 86-year-old Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. However, some witnesses reported that chants of “Death to the dictator!” could be heard from homes in Tehran in the evening.
In the streets, citizens carried portraits of Khamenei and the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, as well as Iranian and Palestinian flags. Some also chanted "Death to America!" and "Death to Israel!"
The strong element of support for the theocracy is largely made up of the Revolutionary Guards, who crushed protests last month, killing thousands and arresting tens of thousands more. Others attended the celebrations for work reasons or for the party atmosphere the government was hosting. Meanwhile, a senior Iranian security official, Ali Larijani, traveled from Oman to Qatar, which hosts a key US base and has served as a mediator in the nuclear negotiations.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in an interview with the Russian channel RT, stated that Iran still does not have “full trust in the Americans” due to the US attack on Iranian nuclear facilities during previous negotiations. However, he added that it is possible to reach a better agreement than the 2015 one, signed during the presidency of Barack Obama. The United States has already deployed the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group and other warships to the Middle East, ready to intervene if necessary. Trump also suggested the possibility of sending another warship to the region, while he has not decided which one will go. The situation remains tense as Iran faces international pressure over the nuclear issue and domestic political challenges following protests and violent repression.
