Iranian President Hassan Rouhani arrived in Tehran this morning. According to Thomas Erdbrink, Tehran bureau chief for the New York Times, not everyone in Iran is happy with Rouhani’s outreach to the United States.
I'm at Tehran's Mehrabad airport where hundreds of people are awaiting the return of Rouhani from NYC
— Thomas Erdbrink (@ThomasErdbrink) September 28, 2013
Supporters of Rouhani are waving Iranian flags, most are school kids bussed in for the event
— Thomas Erdbrink (@ThomasErdbrink) September 28, 2013
There are also around 50 hard line students holding placards saying they oppose Rouhani's US outreach.
— Thomas Erdbrink (@ThomasErdbrink) September 28, 2013
Hard line students: "anybody who brings back the hegemonic powers to this country is doomed."
— Thomas Erdbrink (@ThomasErdbrink) September 28, 2013
Now both opponents and supporters of Rouhani shouting 'Allah o Akbar' in two competing microphones
— Thomas Erdbrink (@ThomasErdbrink) September 28, 2013
The atmosphere is good at Tehran's Mehrabad airport: no tensions between both opposing groups.
— Thomas Erdbrink (@ThomasErdbrink) September 28, 2013
"Long live Rouhani, everlasting change!," pro group chants. "Death to America!," hard liners chant in return.
— Thomas Erdbrink (@ThomasErdbrink) September 28, 2013
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One placard at tehran airport: "Welcome, Lord of Peace."
— Thomas Erdbrink (@ThomasErdbrink) September 28, 2013
Total chaos as hard liners hurls eggs and shoes at Rouhani, one person almost driven over by his car
— Thomas Erdbrink (@ThomasErdbrink) September 28, 2013
Fighting during Rouhani homecoming illustrates his troubles ahead as he pushes forward for Iran US ties
— Thomas Erdbrink (@ThomasErdbrink) September 28, 2013
Small number of police could not prevent around 75 hard liners from attacking Iran's president
— Thomas Erdbrink (@ThomasErdbrink) September 28, 2013
Rouhani was trying to keep smiling but security people tried to shield him off with an umbrella, then pulled him into car and drove off.
— Thomas Erdbrink (@ThomasErdbrink) September 28, 2013
Financial Times correspondent Najmeh Bozorgmehr also was there:
Rouhani's plane landed, journalists waiting for him to get out of the airbus
— Najmeh Bozorgmehr (@Najmeh_Tehran) September 28, 2013
Maybe hard liners were about tow dozens hurling eggs but not sure about shoes
— Najmeh Bozorgmehr (@Najmeh_Tehran) September 28, 2013
Some hard liners at airport arrested
— Najmeh Bozorgmehr (@Najmeh_Tehran) September 28, 2013
Hard liners are very upset that Rouhani's car almost drove on one of them
— Najmeh Bozorgmehr (@Najmeh_Tehran) September 28, 2013
Harldline protesters now walk together not to be arrested!
— Najmeh Bozorgmehr (@Najmeh_Tehran) September 28, 2013
Hardline protesters get on a bus and leave
— Najmeh Bozorgmehr (@Najmeh_Tehran) September 28, 2013
A photographer snapped this photo of the scene:
Attacking by shoes toward #Rouhani, #Iran #President at #Mehrabad airport. photo by Peyman Yazdani pic.twitter.com/vbY6TQyvOH
— Peyman Yazdani (@peymanyazdani_) September 28, 2013
Editor’s note: This post has been updated with additional tweets.
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