Iranians Shout 'God Damn America' on US Embassy Siege Anniversary
Several thousand Iranians set US flags on fire and chanted anti-American slogans on Wednesday marking the 36th anniversary of the student takeover of the US Embassy in Tehran in 1979.
52 American diplomats were held hostage for 444 days after the U.S. refused to hand over toppled Iranian shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi back to Iran for trial.
On the eve of the anniversary, Iran's state television announced that a Lebanese-American, Nazar Zaka, had been arrested on suspicion of "deep ties with the U.S. military and intelligence services," the report cited.
The U.S. State Department said Zaka is not an American citizen.
"We are aware of reports that a U.S. lawful permanent resident has been arrested in Iran," State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau said. "U.S. lawful permanent residents are not U.S. passport holders and would travel on the passport of their nationality. Consular assistance would be provided by the country of the individual's nationality."
Four other Iranian-Americans are being held in Tehran, including pastor Saeed Abedini, who was convicted in 2013 on Christian-related activities.
Protesters on Wednesday chanted "Death to America", "God damn America," and "No compromise, no surrender to U.S" as they urged Iran's chief nuclear negotiator not to "trust the Americans."
Hard-liners in Iran are trying to scuttle President Hassan Rouhani's outreach to the West following July's landmark nuclear deal. Opponents of the deal in Iran are deeply suspicious of the United States and its allies.
The Guardian's investigate journalist Akbar Ganji warns that a 'new wave of repression is imminent in Iran as the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other hard-liners, try to 'eliminate moderates and reformists' seeking closer economic and cultural ties with the United States.
Iran's intelligence services have in recent days arrested several prominent journalists and activists accusing them of working with the United States.
"Thanks to their vigilance, the intelligence and security forces identified and cracked down on a network of penetration in the media and cyberspace, and detained spies and writers hired by the Americans," said Ebrahim Raeisi, Iran's Prosecutor General.
Raeisi, who addressed Wednesday's anniversary rally, said Iran will stand up to any cultural, social or economic penetration by the Americans.
"Under no circumstances will we allow a penetration of Americans into our economic, social and cultural areas," Raeisi said. "Anywhere we see the footprints of America and their domination system or any trace of their cultural penetration, rest assured that our statesmen, officials, intelligence forces and the great Iranian nation will confront them."
