Iranians across the country are commemorating the 52nd anniversary of an uprising against the US-backed former monarchical regime of Pahlavi.

People are marking the day, known as 15th of Khordad on the Iranian calendar, in different parts of the country.

To the Iranians, the event marks a prelude to the victory of Iran’s Islamic Revolution in 1979.

In 1963, a massive crowd of people took to the streets to protest against the arrest of the late founder of the Islamic Republic Ayatollah Rouhollah Khomeini by the Pahlavi regime’s security forces.

Imam Khomeini had been arrested for his angry speech against the ruling Shah and the US.

A large number of people were killed by the police and the military during the violent crackdown on protesters in different cities.

Fifteen years later, Imam Khomeini spearheaded Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, which led to the overthrow of the US-backed Shah of Iran.

Iranians mark the event annually since the victory of the Islamic Revolution.

The occasion, which falls on June 5th this year, is a national holiday in Iran.

By Press TV