Thousands of demonstrators marched through the streets of Teheran Wednesday to mark the 36th anniversary of the seizure of the U.S. Embassy there and the captivity of 52 American hostages. The rally, which was sponsored and organized by the government, included traditional chants of “Death to America” and the burning of American flags as well as innovations such as chants of “God Damn America” and the abuse of effigies of current US officials. “Under no circumstances will we allow penetration of Americans in economic, social, and cultural areas,” declared State prosecutor Ebrahim Raeisi, who added that several American “spies and writers hired by Americans” have recently been arrested. Similar events were held in other Iranian cities. Elsewhere, Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior aid to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, declared on Wednesday that there would be no cooperation with the US in any area, including the “fight against terrorists in Syria.” Read More >>
