Iranian hard-liners unveil anti-US plaque at former embassy

Students set fire to American, British and Israeli flags after installing sign with condemnations of US uttered by Khomeini

By AP 2 September 2015, 3:03 pm

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Iranian members of the Basij militia and hard-line students step on British, American and Israeli flags during the inauguration ceremony of a memorial plaque bearing one hundred anti-American comments made by the Islamic republic's late founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and displayed on the fence of the former American embassy in Tehran, on September 2, 2015. (Atta Kenar/AFP)

TEHRAN, Iran — More than a dozen hard-line Iranian students have unveiled an anti-American plaque at the gate of the former US Embassy in Tehran.

The plaque presented Wednesday by the Basij paramilitary forces carries a list of condemnations of America uttered by the Islamic republic’s late founder, Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeinin including “Great Satan,” “criminals,” “corrupt,” “arrogant,” or “anti-Koran.” During the gathering, the students set fire to US, British and Israeli flags.

On Tuesday, Iranian police arrested in Tehran distributors of printed clothing bearing “American and British flags.”

Iran and the US have had no diplomatic relations since 1979, when Iranian students stormed the embassy and took 52 Americans hostage for 444 days.

Hard-liners in Iran have stepped up displays of anti-American fervor since the signing of a landmark nuclear agreement with Washington and five world powers last month.

Last month, amid the fanfare of Britain reopening its embassy in Tehran, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said it was too early for a similar advance in ties with the US because of the country’s “illogical attitude,” Reuters reported.

A memorial plaque bearing one hundred anti-American comments made by Iran's late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, is displayed during its inauguration on September 2, 2015, on the fence of the former American embassy in Tehran. (Atta Kenare/AFP) — A memorial plaque bearing one hundred anti-American comments made by Iran’s late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, is displayed during its inauguration on September 2, 2015, on the fence of the former American embassy in Tehran. (Atta Kenare/AFP)

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the British mission, Zarif said “the situation is different with the US,” and that “there needs to be a change in that kind of attitude and behavior on the part of the US.”

US President Barack Obama displayed a more positive attitude earlier in August toward the two countries’ relations, saying that resolving the Iranian nuclear issue could make it possible to open broader talks with Iran on other issues, such as the conflict in Syria.

“Is there the possibility that having begun conversations around this narrow issue that you start getting some broader discussions about Syria, for example, and the ability of all the parties involved to try to arrive at a political transition that keeps the country intact and does not further fuel the growth of ISIL and other terrorist organizations?” he asked, referring to the Islamic State group by one of its acronyms.

“I think that’s possible. But I don’t think it happens immediately,” Obama said.

Times of Israel staff and AFP contributed to this report.