TEHRAN, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Iranians on Monday attended large gatherings across the country to pledge allegiance to the country's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
The nationwide ceremonies were held concurrently in different cities one day after Iran's Assembly of Experts announced the new supreme leader's appointment.
In the capital Tehran, people from different walks of life along with Iranian officials gathered in the iconic Enghelab Square, waving Iran's national flags and holding pictures of the new leader, and late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint U.S. and Israeli strike late last month.
They chanted slogans swearing allegiance to and reaffirming support for the new leader and condemning the U.S. and Israeli "crimes" against Iran.
The participants vowed that they will never surrender to the "enemies," and stressed that the "enemies" have made miscalculations and will be defeated.
They also voiced unwavering support for the country's armed forces in their fight against the United States and Israel.
The United States and Israel launched surprise airstrikes on Tehran and other Iranian cities on Feb. 28, killing Ali Khamenei, along with some of the leader's family members, Iran's senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded through several waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. assets across the Middle East.
The Assembly of Experts said in a Sunday statement that Mojtaba Khamenei secured the "decisive vote" of its representatives. ■
