Iran marks 39th anniversary of establishment of Islamic Republic

TEHRAN - Iranians celebrated on Sunday the 39th anniversary of the establishment of the Islamic Republic.

Thirty nine years ago, Iranians voted for the establishment of the Islamic Republic following the overthrow of Iran's US-backed Shah regime.

Back then and after the 1979 victory of Iranians' Islamic revolution, in a referendum over 98.2 percent of the Iranians voted "yes" to the establishment of an Islamic Republic system.

On the occasion, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said in a statement that contrary to the enemy's evil wish, the following year will be the brightest for the Islamic Republic of Iran, state TV reported on Sunday.

The Islamic Republic, with its revolutionary identity and religious foundation cut the hands of foreign powers from the country's affairs," the statement was cited as reading.

"It (Islamic revolution in Iran) prepared the ground for disrupting the evil plans of the global imperialists to devour the Islamic world and fully dominate humanity," it said.

The Islamic Republic has now turned into "the most important challenge and disturbance of the international arrogance led by the evil, criminal and deceitful America," it added.

Since April 1, 1980, the Iranians annually celebrate April 1 as the anniversary of the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran, referred to as the Islamic Republic Day.