As in previous years, Iranians from all walks of life held nationwide rallies on Monday to mark the historic takeover of the former US Embassy in Tehran. November 4, known as “Student Day” or “13th of Aban” in Iran, marks the day of fight against global arrogance.

On such a day in 1979, a group of revolutionary Iranian university students took over the US Embassy which they believed had turned into a den of espionage that aimed to overthrow the nascent Islamic Republic establishment.

Documents found at the compound later corroborated claims by revolutionary students that the US was using its Tehran embassy to plot to topple the new Islamic establishment of Iran.

Referring to the 1979 takeover, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said on Sunday that Iranian youth were more than three decades ahead of their time when they called the former US Embassy in Tehran the den of espionage.

“On that day, our youth named the US Embassy the 'den of espionage’ and today, after over three decades, US embassies in the European countries, which are American allies, are called nest of espionage,” said the Leader.

Recent documents leaked by former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden have revealed a signals intelligence collection program, codenamed STATEROOM, which is conducted from sites at US embassies and consulates and from diplomatic outposts of other “Five Eyes” nations.

The “Five Eyes” club is an intelligence sharing alliance including the US, Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

The revelation comes as Washington has been embarrassed by disclosures that it monitored phone calls and texts of at least 35 world leaders including that of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Revelations of massive spying operations by the United States have triggered condemnations across Europe, Latin America, China and Southeast Asia.

RA/NJF