**Iran Marks Anniversary of US Embassy Seizure: Step Toward Escalating International Tensions**
Last Sunday, state-organized rallies were held across Iran to mark the 1979 seizure of the US embassy in Tehran. The event, which left a deep mark on the history of Iran-US relations, was commemorated in the capital by thousands of people chanting anti-American and anti-Israeli slogans outside the gate of the former embassy, which has remained unused since the hostage crisis.
It is important to note that this anniversary comes amid growing tensions between Iran, the US, and Israel. Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s Threat Speech delivered two days before the Tehran rallies further fanned the flames of discord, warning the United States and Israel against a “crushing response” to the recent Israeli attack on military bases and other sites in Iran.
This verbal escalation, coupled with a buildup of U.S. military positions in the Middle East, has raised legitimate concerns about the potential for broader conflicts in the Middle East region.
The dramatic portrayal of anti-American and anti-Zionist hatred at these rallies, with images of leaders of Iran-allied militant groups killed by Israel, such as Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, is indicative of the deep resentments and rivalries that animate the region.
The 1979 hostage crisis, which lasted 444 days, marked the beginning of a long period of tensions between the two nations, tensions that still reverberate in global geopolitics today. The constant threat of armed confrontation between Israel and Iran, encouraged by bellicose rhetoric on both sides, poses a real threat to regional stability and international peace.
In this tense context, it is imperative that all parties exercise restraint and work towards de-escalating tensions. It is vital that the international community, particularly the major world powers, actively engage in finding diplomatic solutions to prevent a regional catastrophe with unpredictable consequences.
In conclusion, the commemoration of the seizure of the American embassy in Tehran must be an opportunity to reflect on history and learn from the past to avoid repeating mistakes that could plunge the world into another devastating conflict. Dialogue, diplomacy and international collaboration must be the key words to ensure a peaceful and prosperous future for all peoples in the region and around the world.