Tens of thousands of Iranians reportedly took to the streets on Tuesday to celebrate the 1979 overthrow of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran by burning the U.S. flag and chanting "Death to America."
The multi-city rallies were held on the 35th anniversary of the hostage crisis, in which more than 50 Americans were captured by hardline Iranian protestors, and were meant to showcase Iran’s ongoing hostility to the United States, according to regional reports.
Dubbed the National Day of Campaign Against Global Arrogance, Iranians from across the nation could be heard chanting in the streets, "Death to U.S." and burning both American and Israeli flags, according to Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency and other outlets.
Major rallies were held outside the former U.S. embassy in Tehran, now known as "the den of spies," while others took place in smaller cities across the country.
"The demonstrators also condemned the U.S.-led western sanctions against Iran, and stressed that the United States is the main enemy of the Iranian nation," Fars reported.
The anti-American rallies are held every year around this time.
Flags stating, "Down with USA" were displayed at the rallies, while others held pictures of the American hostages with their arms pinned over their heads.
As the demonstrations took place, Iranian officials in charge of leading talks with the West over the country’s contested nuclear program said that any deal must recognize Iran’s right to enrich uranium, the key component in a nuclear weapon.
"Iran is ready to ink a comprehensive nuclear accord with the six major world powers if the Islamic Republic’s nuclear rights are recognized," Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said, according to Fars.
Hossein Dehqani, head of Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations, said Iran also would not compromise on any issues related to its "national security," such as its missile programs.
"As stated by Iran’s high-ranking officials, areas related to our national security such as the defense capabilities are not subject to any negotiations at any level," Dehqani said at the U.N. on Monday, according to Fars.