TEHRAN- The Tehran Times, which began publishing in 1979, was founded during the early years of Iran’s quest for independence. The English-language daily newspaper has been regarded by Mohammad Beheshti, one of the most influential and renowned figures of the Islamic Republic, as the “voice of the Islamic Revolution”.

Such a label, made the staff at the Tehran Times feel an even bigger responsibility to accurately and effectively report the daily occurrences in the country and become a helping hand in the consolidation and entrenchment of the new people-led governance. For that, the paper needed to follow the events with a keen eye and try to draw attention to issues that were essential to be addressed.

That’s why with the approaching of the 10-day Fajr occasion, the period from February 1st (Bahman 12th) to February 11th (Bahman 22nd) of 1977 during which Imam Khomeini returned to Iran after 15 years of exile, we have decided to take a look at how the Tehran Times commemorated the historic period in February of 1980. Such an act would help us understand where we stand today, and give us a clearer vision of the hardships Iranians had to endure to be able to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution today. February 1st in the year 1980 was a Friday. The Tehran Times’s covering of the Fajr decade began a day later, on Saturday. 

Saturday, February 3, 1980
Imam Khomeini calls for greater unity

On February 3, as Imam Khomeini was still bedridden due to heart problems, he decided to write a letter to clerics to ask them to show more unity and cohesion in the face of international threats and domestic challenges. 

“Imam Khomeini yesterday called upon the clergy to work for continued national unity and discipline. In a letter addressed to the clergy in the Theological Seminary in the holy city of Qom, Imam Khomeini said the clergy should emphasize the need for greater unity among the people,” the Tehran Times wrote. It also talked about a letter that was addressed to Imam Khomeini himself.

“Masoud Barzani, head of the Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party, congratulated Imam Khomeini on the eve of the first anniversary of the Islamic Revolution of Iran and the triumphant return of the Imam to his homeland. Barzani said that the Islamic Revolution of Iran has caused international imperialism and Zionism a severe blow”. While later reports showed that the Kurdish-Iraqi figure had a close relationship with Israel during the time of writing the letter, he nevertheless found it important to express gratitude for Iran’s support towards the oppressed people of the region. “Barzani continued that the Islamic Revolution of Iran is also the hope and aspiration of the deprived people of Iraq and particularly the Iraqi Kurds”.