The meeting was held on the occasion of the uprising of the people of Tabriz on Feb. 18, 1978, (29th of Bahman in 1356) against the Pahlavi regime.

In this meeting, Ayatollah Khamenei hailed the maximum presence of the Iranian nation in the February 11 (22nd of Bahman) rallies on the occasion of the 44th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.

Despite all media campaigns and provocations of enemies, the existing problems, and the cold weather, the Iranian people attended the rallies, the Leader said, noting that the participation of people revealed many truths.

On the 22nd of Bahman, the people, from Iran’s provinces, literally created a historical epic, he also said, describing it as very valuable.

The Leader further noted that the message of the Iranians’ participation in rallies was full support for the Islamic Revolution and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The voice of the Iranian nation undermined the Zionists and the Americans who are operating the media empire of the world, he said.

Resistance gives identity and greatness to nations and helps them to protect nations from their culture, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution noted, describing the epic of Bahman 22 as an example of such resistance.

Referring to the 1978 uprising of the people of Tabriz, Ayatollah Khamenei said that the resistant and courageous people of Tabriz prevented past experiences from taking place again.

According to the Leader’s remarks, Tabriz’s people turned the 1978 uprising of the Qom people into a national uprising and then into a public incident.

The flag of Iran’s freedom is in the hands of the people of Tabriz, he underscored.

The Leader also pointed to recent west-backed riots in Iran, highlighting that one of the most important goals behind the riots was making people forget this 22nd Bahman.