By Mohammad Kursun

TEHRAN

Iranian protesters staged rallies against the U.S. in the capital Tehran on Sunday, which marks 39th anniversary of the capture of the U.S. Embassy in 1979.

“America, America, death to your deceptions” and “Death to America, death to Israel!” chanted protesters as they marched in the capital, Iran’s semi-official ISNA news agency reported.

Several political and military officials took part in the rallies, including Mohammad Ali Jafari, commander-in-chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard.

Addressing the protesters, Jafari said Nov. 4 represents the conflict between Iran and the U.S.

“Never threaten the Iranian people… do not make military threats against us, and do not frighten us by military threats,” Jafari was quoted as saying by Tehran Times.

On Nov. 4, 1979, a group of Iranian students stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and took 52 American hostages for 444 days.

The detention process caused a long crisis between Tehran and Washington before being ended with the signing of the Algiers Agreements on Jan. 19, 1981, when the hostages were released on the following day.