Iranians began what was supposed to be a nationwide celebration Friday to commemorate the 38th anniversary of the 1979 revolution, but quickly turned into an angry, anti-American rally.
Demonstrators in Tehran chanted slogans against the U.S. and Israel, such as “Death to America.” Printed U.S. flags and pictures of current and former U.S. presidents lay scattered on the streets — so they could be trampled by the marchers.
The rallies come at a time when President Donald Trump has already warned Iran’s leadership and put Tehran “on notice” over a recent ballistic missile test.
Among other places, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators marched toward Tehran’s Azadi Square, where Rouhani addressed the crowd. He called the new U.S. administration “a problem” and said Iran will strongly answer any threat from its enemies.
“All of them should know that they must talk to the Iranian nation with respect and dignity,” he urged the world. “Our nation will strongly answer to any threat. (Iranians) will resist before enemies until the end.”
Rouhani called Iran the home of “lions” but said the country does not seek hostility. “We are not after tensions in the region and the world,” he said. “We are united before bullying and any threat.”
In downtown Tehran, thousands of people marched, some carrying the Iranian flag, some with banners and posters with revolutionary slogans. Printed U.S. flags and pictures of current and former U.S. presidents were flattened on the road and trampled by some participants.
Iran and the U.S. have not had diplomatic relations since 1979, when Iranian students stormed the American Embassy and took 52 Americans hostage for 444 days.
Some posters distributed in English read: “Thanks to American people for supporting Muslims.” Another one with a picture of Trump said: “Thanks Mr. Trump … for revealing the face of the U.S.,” a reference to remarks Tuesday by Iran’s supreme leader in which he said the “newcomer” Trump had shown the “real face” of the United States.
Some people threw balls and darts targeting pictures of Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Some demonstrators burned an American flag. Semi-official ILNA news agency reported that some demonstrators burned an Israeli flag.
President Rouhani told reporters prior to addressing the crowd that Iranians will make the U.S. regret using threatening language, according to the semi-official ISNA news agency.
“Anyone who speaks the language of threat to this nation, the Iranian nation will make him regret” it, he said, without elaborating. “This presence (of demonstrators) is a response to wrong comments by new leaders in the White House, and they announce with their presence to the world that they should talk with respect and not use threatening language to the Iranian nation.”
State television aired footage of commemorations in Tehran and other cities and towns across the country, many of them in sub-zero temperatures.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.