DHAKA: Iranian hardliners demonstrated to mark the anniversary on Monday of the 1979 seizure of the US embassy in Tehran, a sign of the considerable obstacles to president Hassan Rouhani’s diplomatic initiative to ease tension with Washington.

Large crowds gathered early on Monday morning around the embassy building, often described as the ‘nest of spies’, holding anti-US placards, waving flags and shouting ‘Death to America’, Iranian media reported, says The Jerusalem Post.

The 1979 siege began when student activists stormed the embassy, taking hostage 52 embassy staff for 444 days.

The two countries have not re-established diplomatic relations since.

BDST: 1929 HRS, NOV 04, 2013
RoR/SRS