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| Iranians Gather on 35th Anniversary of Islamic Revolution | Iranians Gather on 35th Anniversary of Islamic Revolution |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| TEHRAN — Millions of Iranians participated in government-backed rallies marking the 35th anniversary of the Islamic revolution on Tuesday, Iranian state media reported. | TEHRAN — Millions of Iranians participated in government-backed rallies marking the 35th anniversary of the Islamic revolution on Tuesday, Iranian state media reported. |
| At the largest rallies, in the capital, Tehran, the ongoing nuclear talks between Iran and world powers, including the United States, dominated the event, which is traditionally organized by Iran’s hard-line factions. | At the largest rallies, in the capital, Tehran, the ongoing nuclear talks between Iran and world powers, including the United States, dominated the event, which is traditionally organized by Iran’s hard-line factions. |
| Posters and placards were distributed bearing slogans that referred to Secretary of State John Kerry’s recent remarks that despite the discussions over the nuclear program the military option remains on the table. | Posters and placards were distributed bearing slogans that referred to Secretary of State John Kerry’s recent remarks that despite the discussions over the nuclear program the military option remains on the table. |
| “We are eager for all options on the table,” many of the placards read, cheerfully held up by Iranian families pushing baby strollers while shouting, “Death to America.” Other posters said, “We are ready for the great battle.” | “We are eager for all options on the table,” many of the placards read, cheerfully held up by Iranian families pushing baby strollers while shouting, “Death to America.” Other posters said, “We are ready for the great battle.” |
| Wendy R. Sherman, the under secretary of state for political affairs, was singled out during the rallies. Some of the participants shouted “death to Sherman,” the semiofficial Iranian Student News Agency reported. | Wendy R. Sherman, the under secretary of state for political affairs, was singled out during the rallies. Some of the participants shouted “death to Sherman,” the semiofficial Iranian Student News Agency reported. |
| Testifying before the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee a week ago, Ms. Sherman said that the Iranian government had started handing out free food, after the United States released $500 million to Iran as part of a temporary agreement over the country’s nuclear program. | Testifying before the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee a week ago, Ms. Sherman said that the Iranian government had started handing out free food, after the United States released $500 million to Iran as part of a temporary agreement over the country’s nuclear program. |
| Iranian hard-liners reacted angrily, saying the money — which came from Iranian accounts frozen under sanctions — had been seized by the United States and that Iran had long ago paid for the free food. | Iranian hard-liners reacted angrily, saying the money — which came from Iranian accounts frozen under sanctions — had been seized by the United States and that Iran had long ago paid for the free food. |
| Some protesters also called for the deaths of President Obama and Mr. Kerry. | Some protesters also called for the deaths of President Obama and Mr. Kerry. |
| On Feb. 11, 1979 Iranian revolutionaries declared victory over the regime of Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi and brought to power a government overseen by Shiite Muslim clerics. | On Feb. 11, 1979 Iranian revolutionaries declared victory over the regime of Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi and brought to power a government overseen by Shiite Muslim clerics. |
| President Hassan Rouhani, a cleric who was elected in June, criticized what he called American threats against Iran but said that if world powers negotiating with Iran over its nuclear program respected Tehran’s “rights,” they would receive “a positive and appropriate answer” from Iran. | President Hassan Rouhani, a cleric who was elected in June, criticized what he called American threats against Iran but said that if world powers negotiating with Iran over its nuclear program respected Tehran’s “rights,” they would receive “a positive and appropriate answer” from Iran. |
| “Iran is determined to hold fair and constructive talks based on international law. We hope that we will see the same kind of will from the opposite side during the talks that will begin within days,” Mr. Rouhani said in a speech on state radio. “I am frankly telling P5+1 countries that the nuclear talks are a historical test for Europe and America,” he said, referring to the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany. | “Iran is determined to hold fair and constructive talks based on international law. We hope that we will see the same kind of will from the opposite side during the talks that will begin within days,” Mr. Rouhani said in a speech on state radio. “I am frankly telling P5+1 countries that the nuclear talks are a historical test for Europe and America,” he said, referring to the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany. |
| But like his predecessor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Mr. Rouhani warned that threats would cost Iran’s counterparts in the nuclear talks dearly. | But like his predecessor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Mr. Rouhani warned that threats would cost Iran’s counterparts in the nuclear talks dearly. |
| “If they want to repeat the unpleasant and incorrect methods of the past, they should know that they will act to the detriment of their own nation, region and global welfare and stability,” he said. | “If they want to repeat the unpleasant and incorrect methods of the past, they should know that they will act to the detriment of their own nation, region and global welfare and stability,” he said. |
| The rally, a sort of ideological carnival, featured clowns explaining to children the importance of brushing their teeth, re-enactments of scenes from the devastating war between Iran and Iraq, and parachutists dropping candy into the crowds. | The rally, a sort of ideological carnival, featured clowns explaining to children the importance of brushing their teeth, re-enactments of scenes from the devastating war between Iran and Iraq, and parachutists dropping candy into the crowds. |
| At one stage, hundreds of people watched Pangool, a famous Iranian children’s television puppet character explain that the children’s presence was neutralizing American threats. “They say all options are on the table,” the puppet said, “but it is your active presence here in the rally that is our answer to them!” Some children looked puzzled but the sight of the famous cat was an attraction by itself, one parent said. | |
| In the distance, the Revolutionary Guard’s band played songs from the 1979 revolution, as one cleric, Mohammad Moshabarati, 28, marched by, holding a long flagpole carrying an Islamic flag. | In the distance, the Revolutionary Guard’s band played songs from the 1979 revolution, as one cleric, Mohammad Moshabarati, 28, marched by, holding a long flagpole carrying an Islamic flag. |
| “Everything you see here is the achievement of our Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei,” he said. “Our slogan is ‘Death to U.S.’ and it will be so forever no matter what President Rouhani agrees with the Americans.” | “Everything you see here is the achievement of our Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei,” he said. “Our slogan is ‘Death to U.S.’ and it will be so forever no matter what President Rouhani agrees with the Americans.” |
| There were reports that activists belonging to the silenced opposition movement had planned to join the rallies, and plainclothes police officers could be seen among the crowd. Social media reported the arrest of six people, but this could not be independently verified. | There were reports that activists belonging to the silenced opposition movement had planned to join the rallies, and plainclothes police officers could be seen among the crowd. Social media reported the arrest of six people, but this could not be independently verified. |