Hundreds of thousands rally in Iran against Trump

Hundreds of thousands of Iranians today rallied swear allegiance to the clerical establishment following US President Donald Trump’s warning that he had put the Islamic Republic “on notice”, state TV reported.

On the anniversary of Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, which toppled the US-backed shah, marchers including hundreds of military personnel and policemen headed towards Tehran’s Azadi Square.

They carried “Death to America” banners and effigies of Trump, while a military police band played traditional Iranian revolutionary songs.

Read: Iran rebuffs Trump’s threats

State TV showed footage of people stepping on Trump’s picture in a central Tehran street. Marchers carried the Iranian flag and banners saying: “Thanks Mr. Trump for showing the real face of America.”

However, some marchers carried banners that read: “Thanks to American people for supporting Muslims.”

“America and Trump cannot do a damn thing. We are ready to sacrifice our lives for our leader,” a young Iranian man told state TV in a reference to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Read: US should expand missile defense due to Iran

Last week, Trump put Iran “on notice” in reaction to a 29 January Iranian missile test and imposed fresh sanctions on individuals and entities. Iran said it will not halt its missile programme.

In a speech marking the revolution’s anniversary, Rouhani urged for unity.

“Some inexperienced figures in the region and America are threatening Iran … They should know that the language of threats has never worked with Iran,” Rouhani told the crowd at Azadi Square.

“Our nation is vigilant and will make those threatening Iran regret it … They should learn to respect Iran and Iranians … We will strongly confront any war-mongering policies.”