Live
Audio Only
Bolton, the mastermind behind U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, predicted that the Islamic Revolution, "would not last to it's 40th birthday. "
A large number of prisoners in Iran will be pardoned Thursday in honor of the 40th anniversary of the revolution that toppled the U.S.-backed Shah, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on his Twitter account.
RELATED
Iran, Russia to Abandon Dollar, Trade in National Currencies
The number of prisoners that will be pardoned by Khamenei was not announced, but Iranian media earlier said around 50,000 prisoners will enjoy "the Islamic clemency".
The country is holding official celebrations for the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution that will culminate next Monday in a nationwide rally.
It was not immediately clear whether those who will be pardoned will include some of the hundreds of prisoners that human rights groups say have been jailed for political offenses.
Khamenei has the final say on all state matters and issues pardons or reduces sentences of prisoners on special occasions.
40th anniversary celebrations started Feb. 1 and will continue until Feb. 11. These come in the face of US sanctions that have beleaguered the nation since the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump decided to unilaterally withdraw from the Iran nuclear arms deal in April 2018.
The celebrations are particularly poignant since U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton said, “The outcome of the president’s policy review should be to determine that the Ayatollah Khomeini’s 1979 revolution will not last until its 40th birthday. And that’s why, before 2019, we here will celebrate in Tehran!” as he told a terrorist MKO convention in Paris.
Newsletter
