Preventing Iranian citizens from being present in Persepolis during the New Year
Some reports from Iran indicate that police have prevented people from entering the Persepolis area, a palace dating back to the Achaemenid era, at the time of the New Year.
A report sent by a VOA listener indicates that Iranian law enforcement has prevented visitors from entering the Persepolis area to celebrate the New Year.
In recent years, the authorities of the Islamic Republic have shown special sensitivity to Pasargadae and Persepolis, and in particular, they have prevented Iranian citizens from attending Cyrus Day. In previous years, hundreds of Iranians who intended to attend Persepolis and Pasargadae on Cyrus Day have been arrested and sentenced to prison.
In 518 BC, the construction of Persepolis began as the new capital of the Achaemenids in Pars. The founder of Persepolis was Darius the Great.
In his message congratulating the New Year 2018, Donald Trump, the President of the United States of America, also referred to the famous prayer of Darius the Achaemenid, who asked God to protect Iran from hostile armies, drought, and lies.
President Trump sees the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as representing all three of these.
Source: Voice of America
