New ‘Death to America’ songs unveiled in Iran

Tunes performed in Tehran ahead of protest marking 1979 US Embassy invasion

By AP 2 November 2013, 9:40 pm Edit

Outside the former US Embassy in Tehran. (photo credit: CC BY Örlygur Hnefill, Flickr)

TEHRAN, Iran — Hard-liners in Iran have unveiled two new “Death to America” songs at the former US Embassy in Tehran, hoping to keep anger high ahead of nuclear talks with Western powers.

They performed the songs Saturday ahead of a planned massive protest Monday to mark the anniversary of the US Embassy takeover in 1979.

The anniversary this year is drawing greater attention due to hard-line opposition to moderate President Hassan Rouhani’s outreach to the West as talks over the country’s contested nuclear program continue. Hard-liners also criticized Rouhani’s historic telephone conversation with US President Barack Obama in September, a gesture aimed at ending three decades of estrangement between the two countries.

Authorities pulled down dozens of anti-US banners and posters around Tehran last week.