Iran hard-liners denounce outreach to West at anti-U.S. rally

TEHRAN — Thousands of Iranians burned the American flag and chanted slogans Wednesday as they marked the anniversary of the seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran by militant students 36 years ago.

The annual state-organized rally drew greater attention this year, as Iranian hard-liners look to counter moderate President Hassan Rouhani’s outreach to the West following a landmark nuclear deal reached with world powers in July.

On Nov. 4, 1979, militant students stormed the U.S. Embassy compound and took 52 Americans hostage after Washington refused to hand over the toppled U.S.-backed shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, for trial in Iran.

Hard-liners view fast-food outlets and other American products as part of a “cultural invasion” by the U.S. aimed at undermining Islamic rule and public morality.

“The intelligence and security forces identified and cracked down on a network of penetration in media and cyberspace and detained spies and writers hired by Americans,” he told the rally, without elaborating.