Iran commemorates Islamic Republic Day

Iran has commemorated the 36th anniversary of the historic referendum in which Iranians overwhelmingly voted for the establishment of the Islamic Republic following the collapse of the US-backed Pahlavi regime in 1979.

In a landmark two-day referendum held on March 30-31, 1979, less than two months after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, over 98.2 percent of eligible Iranians voters voted for the establishment of an Islamic Republic in the country.

The Islamic Republic was established in Iran in line with the popular motto of the 1979 Islamic Revolution that called for “Independence, Freedom and the Islamic Republic” for the country.

Since then, the Iranian nation annually celebrates Farvardin 12 in the solar calendar year, which falls on April 1 in normal years and March 31 in leap years, as the anniversary of the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The day is referred to as the Islamic Republic Day.

The 1979 Islamic Revolution led to the overthrow of the Pahlavi dynasty and put an end to 2,500 years of monarchic rule in Iran.

The Islamic Revolution, led by late Imam Khomeini, established a new political system based on Islamic values and democracy.