Share

Iranians rally to mark anniversary of US Embassy takeover

Thousands of Iranians rallied in Tehran on Sunday to mark the 39th anniversary of the US Embassy takeover, as Washington restored all sanctions lifted under the nuclear deal.

The crowd chanted "Down with US" and "Death to Israel" during the rally in the capital, and state TV said similar demonstrations were held in other cities and towns.

Iranian students stormed the embassy shortly after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, taking 52 Americans hostage for 444 days. The US cut off diplomatic relations in response.

Iran's clerically-led government celebrates the embassy takeover every year as a decisive blow against the United States, which had supported the autocratic rule of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

The embassy compound, widely known as the "den of spies", is now a cultural centre.

Anger and distrust of the US is surging again following President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from Iran's nuclear deal with world powers despite Tehran's compliance with the agreement, which was negotiated under the Obama administration.

On Friday, the Trump administration announced the restoration of sanctions on Iran's shipping, financial and energy sectors, the second batch of penalties to be restored.

Iran is already in the grip of an economic crisis, and has seen sporadic protests in recent months as Iranian officials have tried to downplay the sanctions and their effects.

The US says the sanctions are not aimed at toppling the government, but at persuading it to radically change its policies, including its support for regional militant groups and its development of long-range ballistic missiles.

At a gathering on Saturday, Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, portrayed the sanctions as part of a long tradition of American hostility toward the Islamic Republic, which he said had nevertheless prevailed.

KEEP UPDATED on the latest news by subscribing to our FREE newsletter.

- FOLLOW News24 on Twitter

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Are you among the many South Africans who've added more tinned fish to their grocery baskets?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes, pilchards is the new chicken
41% - 494 votes
No, I can't stand canned foods
59% - 717 votes
Vote
Rand - Dollar
18.57
-0.3%
Rand - Pound
23.20
-0.2%
Rand - Euro
19.95
-0.2%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.21
+0.0%
Rand - Yen
0.12
+0.3%
Platinum
976.90
-0.2%
Palladium
956.95
-1.8%
Gold
2,314.57
+0.0%
Silver
27.39
+0.5%
Brent Crude
83.16
-0.2%
Top 40
70,939
+0.2%
All Share
77,177
+0.3%
Resource 10
60,903
-0.2%
Industrial 25
107,610
+0.4%
Financial 15
16,775
+0.4%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE