Inside Iran: Iranians Protest on Anniversary of Embassy Takeover
TEHRAN, Iran Nov. 4, 2013— -- ABC News reports from Iran this week, digging into a changing country few Americans understand. His latest dispatch:
Iran's hardliners flexed their muscles on today's anniversary of the 1979 takeover of the U.S. embassy, bringing thousands of protesters into the streets for their annual anti-U.S. rally outside the former embassy compound.
Men, women and children burned U.S. flags, denounced the United States and Israel and chanted, "Death to America."
What's interesting is why the hardliners felt the need for such a show of strength. In years past, conservatives didn't need to take to the streets in large numbers, because they already dominated the parliament and judiciary.
FULL COVERAGE: ABC NEWS REPORTS FROM INSIDE IRAN
Now, with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani taking a more conciliatory approach, some conservatives believe the Islamic revolution they fought for is eroding. And they're worried that their key call for no diplomatic ties with the United States may be reversed.
Yesterday, in what was perceived as a slight, Iran's supreme leader came out in support of negotiations with the United States over the Iranian nuclear issue, telling Iranians that negotiators were the "children of this country" and that no one should say anything disparaging about them. Rouhani
Rouhani, through his Twitter account, also delivered some subtle jabs at the conservatives as well.
Today, he added that "[p]eople may differ in their approach."
Follow along on our live blog and with #InsideIran on Twitter.
