Updated on
Summary
Opposition protesters clashed with security forces. The police and plainclothes security agents attacked the vehicles of opposition leaders Mohammad Khatami and Mehdi Karroubi, and that some of their relatives, as well as the granddaughter of Iran's revolutionary founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, were arrested. Police also fired teargas at protesters, opposition website reported. The anniversary of Iran's Islamic revolution has traditionally been a time for the country's leaders and people to demonstrate support for the government. Thirty-one years ago, communist, nationalist and Islamic parties united to oust Mohammad-Reza Shah Pahlavi, a ruler they criticsed for being pro-Western and despotic. After he was sent into exile, the Islamic republic was formed and a new government was brought in under the leadership of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Last year's disputed presidential election, however, has highlighted significant political divisions in the country and sparked widespread opposition protests. In the past eight months, Iran has seen some of the most violent clashes between the people and the government since the 1979 revolution.
