The former US embassy, which had notoriety as the "den of spies", was occupied by angry students and 52 Americans were held hostage there for 444 days on November 4, 1979, nearly nine months after the revolution overthrew the US-backed Pahlavi regime.

Students joined a large crowds packing the streets around the former embassy building in capital Tahran from the early hours of morning to celebrate what is regarded as a milestone in Iran's history.

Expressing their opposition to the global hegemony, the demonstrators chanted slogans against the United States and Israel and set their flags on fire in condemnation of their policies.

ILKHA