Iran marks Islamic revolution anniversary, still seeks nuclear deal

TEHRAN - As Iran is heading into celebrations marking the 36th anniversary of the Islamic revolution with popular rallies, it has still been trying to reach a fine deal with the world powers on its nuclear program.

Hundreds of thousands of people in Iran's major cities swarmed to the streets, carrying flags, banners and images of late founder of the Islamic republic Ayatollah Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini, and his successor, incumbent Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

In capital Tehran, people were also waving banners with anti-US and anti-Israel slogans, while chanting support of the country' s rights to peaceful use of nuclear power.

On Tuesday, one day before the anniversary, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani urged the world powers to seize the opportunity, saying Tehran has already taken major steps in the nuclear talks to reach a final deal.

"Alhough we haven't reached a final agreement yet, Iran is following nuclear negotiations seriously and good progress has been achieved so far," Rouhani was quoted as saying by official IRNA news agency.

"We have taken the necessary steps and now it is the other side' s turn to seize the opportunity," said the Iranian president in a meeting with India's National Security Advisor Ajit Kumar Doval.

The Western powers have accused the Islamic Republic of having been developing atomic weapons under the cover of civilian nuclear plan. Iran rejected the allegations as baseless, and insisted that its nuclear program is solely peaceful.

Also, Rouhani urged the Iranians to actively participate in the rallies on Wednesday, marking the 36th anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution, to show their all-out support for the Islamic establishment, according to semi-official Fars news agency.

"The February 11 is a day of national celebration and the Iranian nation's day," Rouhani said, adding that "undoubtedly, we can go through economic problems and the nuclear negotiations more easily with the high massive turnout of the Iranian nation in the February 11 rallies."

With the support of people, Iran will tackle all the issues more powerfully and will defend the nation's rights more easily at lower costs, he added.

The 1979 revolution toppled the U.S.-backed regime of Shah and brought the country under the leadership of Ayatollah Khomeini.