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Iranians Rally to Mark Anniversary of US Embassy Seizure
Thousands of Iranians rallied Friday in front of the former embassy of the United States in Tehran to mark the 21st anniversary of the seizure of the compound in the heyday of the Islamic revolution.
The demonstrators shouted "death to the US" as they marched toward the former US embassy, which has been called the "nest of spies" by Iranians since the revolution, which overthrew the former Shah regime backed by Washington.
The participants of the rally also shouted "death to Israel" and called on the Muslims in the world to extend support to the Palestinians, who fell victims to Israeli bloody suppression in the past month.
Iran has called Washington "the Great Satan" since the two countries severed relations 20 years ago following the embassy seizure and the hostage taking of American diplomats by radical Islamic students.
After the revolution, Iran also ceased to recognize Israel which occupies Arab and Palestinian lands with the support of Washington.
Iran marks the day of the US embassy seizure, which fell on November 4, 1979, every year as a "national day of struggle against global arrogance."
A crack seems to have appeared in the "wall of mistrust" between Tehran and Washington after Iranian President Mohammad Khatami took office in 1997.
Khatami has called for dialog among different civilizations in the world in a bid to enhance understanding, a move which has met positive responses from the US. The US government eased economic sanctions on Iran last March to encourage Iran's reformist movement.
Although the two sides have softened hostile tones toward each other and promoted social and cultural contacts, observers here said they still have a long way to go to normalize their relations.
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