Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf reaffirmed on Tuesday that the Islamic Republic will never compromise its sovereignty, declaring that “Iran will never negotiate its independence under any circumstances or in exchange for any concessions.”

Ghalibaf made the statement during a ceremony marking the anniversary of Aban 13th, the "National Day of Fighting Global Arrogance," which commemorates the 1979 takeover of the US embassy in Tehran, an event deeply rooted in the country’s revolutionary history and its resistance to foreign domination.

Schoolgirls in Bandar Abbas, southern Iran have participated in the 13th of Aban rallies, the National Day of Fighting Global Arrogance. pic.twitter.com/1SHo3JTeeK

— IRNA News Agency (@IrnaEnglish) November 4, 2025

In his address, Ghalibaf condemned US and Israeli aggression, stating that "Global arrogance assassinates our scientists in an attempt to weaken us and undermine our independence."

He emphasized that despite evolving tactics, the core hostility of arrogant powers toward Iran remains unchanged. "The form of arrogance may change, but its nature and hostility toward the Iranian people remain constant," he said, highlighting decades of pressure, sanctions, and covert operations aimed at weakening the Islamic Republic.

Mass rallies across Iran mark defiance

Thousands of Iranians, including students and youth, flooded the streets of Tehran on Tuesday morning to mark the occasion.

The event, during which 52 American diplomats were held in the US embassy for 444 days, remains a watershed moment in the history of the Islamic Revolution and a powerful symbol of Iran’s rejection of foreign meddling.

"إيران تحيي يوم "مقارعة الاستكبار العالمي" يمسيرات حاشدة في #طهران."

إليكم التفاصيل مع مراسل #الميادين مالك عابدة pic.twitter.com/qF2Chvxu3V

— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) November 4, 2025

According to Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Tehran, the majority of participants in Tuesday’s rallies were school and university students, many of whom expressed pride in taking part in what they described as a living legacy of resistance.

On the eve of the commemoration, the Islamic Propagation Coordination Council called on students and the broader public to join the marches, describing the day as a "timeless national epic that embodies the spirit of resilience and resistance against global arrogance."

The event drew nationwide participation, reflecting the strong societal consensus in Iran on the importance of safeguarding the country’s independence and standing firm against outside pressure.

As outlined by Radio Tehran, the November 4th commemoration symbolizes three key milestones in Iran’s modern struggle against foreign domination:

• The exile of Imam Khomeini in response to the Capitulation Law, which granted US citizens immunity from Iranian law.
• The murder of student protesters by the Shah’s regime.
• The 1979 seizure of the US Embassy was a defiant act against American interference in Iran’s internal affairs.

Together, these pivotal events have forged November 4 into a powerful national symbol of defiance. This day mirrors Iran’s unwavering commitment to independence, dignity, and resistance in the face of persistent aggression by the United States and its allies.

US-Iran conflict fundamental in nature, not tactical: Sayyed Khamenei

On Monday, thousands of students met with Sayyed Ali Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, at Imam Khomeini's Hussainiyah to mark the anniversary.

During the gathering, the Leader described the dispute between Iran and the US as “fundamental in nature rather than merely tactical.”

Sayyed Khamenei pointed out that every US president to date has aimed for Iran’s surrender, a stance that, he noted, was expressed very clearly by the current president, Donald Trump. "The Americans sometimes say that they would like to cooperate with Iran. Cooperation with Iran is not possible with America's continued support for the accursed Zionist regime, the existence of American military bases, and interference in the region," Sayyed Ali Khamenei stated.

He went on to characterize the actions of Iranian students in seizing the former US embassy months after the 1979 revolution as a day of triumph, stating, "Takeover of the US embassy by students revealed the true identity of the US government" and emphasizing the significance of the event in exposing US intentions toward Iran.

The Leader acknowledged that sanctions have caused difficulties for the country but stressed that the key to addressing many challenges and safeguarding the nation lies in building strength, adding that the government must carry out its affairs firmly and confidently to achieve this goal.

IRGC marks US embassy takeover as symbol of resistance

On its part, the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) described the takeover of the US embassy by Iranian students following the Islamic Revolution as a demonstration of resistance against the world’s arrogant powers, highlighting its symbolic significance in confronting foreign dominance.

On Monday, the IRGC published a statement saying that the US Embassy takeover in Tehran back in 1979 represents the choice of Iran between resistance and surrender, underscoring its symbolic significance.

Congratulating the Iranian nation on Aban 13, the IRGC described the day as a reminder of three pivotal historical events, including the exile of the late Imam Khomeini (RA) in 1964, the 1978 massacre of students, and the 1979 takeover of the US Embassy, referred to as the Den of Espionage, highlighting their lasting significance.

The statement added that these events serve as enduring evidence of the oppressive and criminal behavior of the United States toward the Iranian nation, demonstrating that the faithful and revolutionary people of Iran will never succumb to deception or global arrogance.

The statement further emphasized that the past four decades, along with Washington's ongoing hostile policies toward Iran, show that US hostility is not merely a political misunderstanding but stems from a clash of structural interests, noting that from the 1953 coup to current proxy wars, pressure, threats, and influence have remained a consistent strategy of the hegemonic regime against the Islamic Republic.

The IRGC highlighted that the US continues its interventionist policies in the region, repeating a historical pattern of domination, and stressed that the younger generation should understand that Iran's confrontation with global arrogance is rooted in history, not slogans.

Aban 13: Student resistance in full force

Aban 13 marks a pivotal day in the history of the Islamic Republic of Iran. On November 4, 1979, a group of Iranian students stormed the United States embassy in Tehran, just months after the victory of the Islamic Revolution.

The students, identifying themselves as the “Muslim Student Followers of the Line of the Imam,” took over the embassy in what they described as a move to prevent further US interference in Iran’s internal affairs. They viewed the embassy not as a diplomatic mission, but as a “Den of Espionage” actively working to undermine the newly established Islamic system.

The takeover was driven by decades of US-backed oppression in Iran, most notably the 1953 coup that overthrew Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh and reinstalled the Shah, who ruled as a Western-aligned dictator.

After the Revolution, fears persisted that Washington was attempting to orchestrate a counterrevolution. The discovery of shredded documents inside the embassy, later reconstructed by Iranian experts, was presented as evidence of continued US espionage and plots against the Islamic Republic.

Aban 13 has since become a national symbol of resistance to foreign domination, especially American imperialism. Every year, Iranians mark the day with rallies and speeches reaffirming their commitment to independence, sovereignty, and the values of the Islamic Revolution. For the Islamic Republic, the embassy takeover was not merely a political act, but a declaration that Iran would no longer tolerate external meddling or subjugation.

The event deepened the divide between Tehran and Washington, setting the stage for decades of hostility. However, within Iran, it reinforced a national ethos of resistance, unity, and vigilance. Aban 13 remains not just a historical moment, but a recurring reminder of the nation’s stance against arrogance and oppression.