Tens of thousands of Iranians took to the streets in cities across the country on Tuesday to commemorate the 41st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.
State TV showed rallies in at least half a dozen cities outside the capital, with people holding signs that read, “Death to America” and “Death to Israel,” according to a Reuters report.
Tensions between Iran and the United States are currently high following the U.S. assassination of Iranian Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad in January and the subsequent firing of missiles by Iran at a military base in Iraq hosting U.S. troops.
Also on Tuesday, Iran dismissed Canada’s complaint regarding the Ukrainian airliner shot down by the Iranian military in January, killing all 176 on board, including 57 Canadians, Reuters reported.
Tehran rejected Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s request to have the black box flight recorders from the downed plane sent abroad for examination and claimed that there was no legal basis for Canada’s complaint.
“Iran’s actions are based on international rules,” said Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, according to the report.
Canadian lawyers are pursuing a class-action lawsuit on behalf of the victims for at least $1.1 billion in compensation, according to Reuters.
Separately, Ynet reported on Monday that two Iranians using fake Israeli passports had been caught while attempting to leave Ecuador last month for Spain. The Iranians, a man and woman in their 20s, were caught with the forged documents by Ecuador’s passport control after successfully entering the country with them, according to the report.