'Courageous presence': Pezeshkian praises millions who rallied under US-Israeli attacks

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has praised the massive turnout for the rallies marking the International Quds Day which took place despite the US-Israeli strikes.

“Your brilliant, conscious, and unifying presence at the Quds Day march was a complete manifestation of [your] commitment and responsibility toward human, Islamic, patriotic, and national values,” Pezeshkian said in a statement on Friday.

On Friday, millions of Iranians rallied in Tehran and different cities across the country to mark the International Quds Day, expressing solidarity with the Palestinian cause and condemning US and Israeli actions in Palestine and beyond.

Pezeshkian stressed that the “courageous” presence of millions of people in the streets in defiance of bombardment reiterated the Iranian nation’s commitment to independence and resistance to oppression and arrogance.

“You took to the streets with memorable courage and made the world admire and bow in front of your epic presence,” he said, adding “I am grateful for the honorable presence of you, the unparalleled nation.”

Referring to the first message of the new Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, which was issued on Thursday, Pezeshkian stressed that it made the path of the country's future at this decisive stage “clear and specific”.

“Paying attention to this message and his guidance will be the guiding principle for all officials of the country, and relying on the far-sightedness of the exalted leadership, together with the support of the history-making Iranian nation, passing through this crisis will be possible, feasible, and even easy,” he added.

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The Iranian Parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf also hailed the massive turnout for the rallies as “a national epic” that has opened “a new chapter in the war management system… the effects of which will become evident.”

The rally in Tehran was held while US-Israeli attacks targeted areas adjecent to the main routs of the demonstration in Enqelab Street. 
One of the demonstrators, a woman, was killed in one of the terrorist strikes. Despite the strikes, people remained in the streets by chanting slogans against the US and Israel. 

Reacting to the rally, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasized that the “strong and resilient” Iranians will “always stand firm and never cower before cowardly attacks”.

On February 28, the United States and the Israeli regime started their unprovoked military aggression on Iran, assassinating the former Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei, and several top military commanders.

Iran began to swiftly retaliate against the criminal aggression by launching barrages of missile and drone attacks on the Israeli-occupied territories as well as on the US bases in regional countries.
 

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