Iran marks 1979 takeover of US Embassy, hostage crisis

Reviving deces-old cries of “Death to America,” Iran on Monday marked 40th anniversary of 1979 student takeover of U.S. Embassy in Tehran and 444-day host crisis that followed as tensions remain high over country’s collapsing nuclear deal with world powers.

Demonstrators gared in front of former U.S. Embassy in downtown Tehran as state television aired foot from or cities across country.

“Thanks to God, today revolution’s seedlings have evolved into a fruitful and huge tree that its show has covered entire” Middle East, said Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi, commander of Iranian army.

However, this year’s commemoration of embassy seizure comes as Iran’s regional allies in Iraq and Leban face widespre protests. Iranian Consulate in Karbala, Iraq, a holy city for Shiites, saw a mob attack it overnight. Three protesters were killed during attack and 19 were wounded, along with seven policemen, Iraqi officials said.

Associated Press video showed a fire burned consulate’s gate as demonstrators threw gasoline bombs and climbed its walls, some waving an Iraqi flag. Iranian media only reported a “protest outside” of diplomatic post, ding that things h returned to rmal.

President Donald Trump retweeted posts by Saudi-linked media showing chaos outside consulate. violence comes after hard-line Keyhan newspaper in Iran reiterated a call for demonstrators to seize U.S. and Saudi diplomatic posts in Iraq in response to unrest.

Demonstrators at or rallies on Monday cried: “Death to America!” and “Death to Israel!” Lawmakers in parliament echoed those cries after approving outline of a bill that would include anti-American teachings in school textbooks. Ors at protests burned U.S. flag replicas and waved signs mocking Trump and America.

A billboard at Tehran’s Vali-e-Asr Square, used by hard-liners to highlight ir political views, showed people waving flags from around world and cheering as an American flag burned. A caption on it re: “We are superpower.”

Speaking in front of former U.S. Embassy in Tehran, Mousavi referred to America as a “scorpion” and said “era of imposing pressure with zero expense is over.”

U.S. is pushing for “surrender of Iran in a gift wrap of words like negotiation and engment,” general said.

Typically, members of Iran’s regular armed forces don’t speak at embassy on anniversary, rar civilians and those in its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard hold speeches. Mousavi’s appearance likely represented an effort by Iran’s ocratic government to show a united front against pressure it faces from U.S. under Trump.

On Sunday, Iran’s Supreme Leer Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reiterated his opposition to negotiation with U.S., saying Tehran h outmaneuvered America in four deces since its Islamic Revolution.

What exactly led to 1979 takeover of embassy was obscure at time to Americans who for months could only watch in horror as TV newscasts showed Iranian protests at embassy. Popular anger against U.S. was rooted in 1953 CIA-engineered coup that toppled Iran’s elected prime minister and cemented power of Shah Mohamm Reza Pahlavi.

shah, dying from cancer, fled Iran in January 1979, paving way for country’s Islamic Revolution. But for months, Iran faced widespre unrest, ranging from separatist attacks, worker revolts and internal power struggles. Police reported for work but t for duty, allowing chaos to unfold, including for Marxist students to briefly seize U.S. Embassy.

In this power vacuum, n-President Jimmy Carter allowed shah to seek medical treatment in New York. That lit fuse for v. 4, 1979, takeover by Islamist students, who initially planned a sit-in at embassy.

But situation quickly spun out of ir control.

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, long-exiled Shiite cleric whose return to Iran sparked Islamic Revolution, gave his support to takeover. He would use that popular angle to expand Islamists’ power.

Some hosts would be released as crisis unfolded, while several ors who escaped embassy and found safety with Cana’s ambassor, left Iran via a CIA-planned escape — dramatic moments that were recounted in 2012 film “Argo.”

Ar 52 American hosts would be held for 444 days until inauguration of President Ronald Reagan, when y were freed.

anniversary comes as Iran appears poised to anunce it was breaking ar limit imposed by 2015 nuclear deal, which saw Tehran limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for lifting of ecomic sanctions. Alrey, Iran has gone beyond its enrichment and stockpile limitations, and has begun using arrays of vanced centrifuges prohibited under accord.

Ali Akbar Salehi, he of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, reportedly traveled to country’s Natanz enrichment facility on Monday ahe of anuncement.

collapse of nuclear deal coincided with a tense summer of mysterious attacks on oil tankers and Saudi oil facilities that U.S. blamed on Iran. Tehran denied allegation, though it did seize oil tankers and shoot down a U.S. military surveillance drone.

U.S. has increased its military presence across Mideast, including basing troops in Saudi Arabia for first time since aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks. Both Saudi Arabia and neighboring United Arab Emirates are believed to be talking to Tehran through back channels to ease tensions.