Iran marks Islamic revolution with demand to expel Israel from UN
- Since Iran’s 1979 revolution, the region’s main Shiite Muslim power has had deeply hostile relations with Israel, the United States and Britain
- Tensions have spiralled since the Hamas attack on Israel in October and Tel Aviv’s assault on Gaza, sparking violence between Iran-backed militant groups and US forces
Iran marked 45 years since its Islamic revolution with a ceremony on Sunday in which President Ebrahim Raisi condemned arch foe Israel over the Gaza war and demanded it be expelled from the United Nations.
Since Iran’s 1979 revolution that overthrew the US-backed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the region’s main Shiite Muslim power has had deeply hostile relations with Israel, the United States and Britain.
Tensions have spiralled further since the bloodiest ever Gaza war erupted on October 7 with the Palestinian militant group Hamas’s attack on Israel, in turn sparking violence between Iran-backed militant groups and US forces.
Support for the Palestinian cause and harsh criticism of the United States – often dubbed the “Great Satan” in Iran – and Israel dominated ceremonies marking the anniversary.
In Tehran, Raisi accused the “Zionist entity”, Iran’s term for Israel, of committing “genocide” in Gaza with the support of the United States and other Western countries.
Supporters chanted “Down with the United States”, “Down with Israel” and “Down with the United Kingdom” at the square, where Iranian-made missiles and other military hardware were on display.
