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Iranians celebrate ancient fire festival as security forces disrupt event in Tehran

On the evening of March 17, the last Wednesday of the year before Nowruz, Iranians in various cities celebrated the long-standing tradition of Chaharshanbe Suri by jumping over fires and enjoying festivities, despite the war and the painful memory of the January massacres fresh in their minds.

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Transcript
00:03Iranians have celebrated the annual fire festival despite military attacks from
00:08Israel and the United States and the Islamic Republic's prohibition of
00:13fireworks. Reza Pallavi, the exiled son of the last Shah of Iran, called on
00:19citizens to hold the celebrations while urging the US and Israel to protect
00:25Iranians from Iranian security forces. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called
00:32the people to celebrate, saying Israel was watching over them from above. In videos
00:38recorded in Tehran, security forces can be seen entering an apartment complex with
00:44a large convoy of vehicles while chanting slogans and gunshots can be heard.
00:54Chahar Shanbe Suri is an ancient Persian festival held on the last Wednesday of the year. It
01:01involves jumping over fire to burn away negativity and start the new year positively. In recent years,
01:08the Islamic Republic has consistently opposed the celebrations and young Iranians often use the
01:14occasion to express their discontent with the regime's policies.
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