In Iran, 'death to Khamenei' chants on Nowruz as leader gives victorious speech

On the new Iranian year, when Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hailed the Islamic Republic's triumph over the public uprising, many Iranians marked the event with death slogans against him. 
ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images
People hold a defaced effigy of Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, as they march past the White House during a demonstration to denounce the Iranian government and express support with anti-government protesters in Iran, in Washington, DC, on Feb. 11, 2023. - ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images
Al Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East
A correspondent in Tehran

TEHRAN — Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the Islamic Republic had emerged victorious in the course of the ongoing unrest that has gripped his country since mid-September, when 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died in police custody. 

"The Islamic Republic proved that it is strong," he declared during a key address broadcast live by state television from a holy shrine in the conservative city of Mashhad on Tuesday. The speech marked the start of national holidays for the new Iranian year, known as Nowruz. 

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.

Videos

See more