Why do Iranians hate the American government?
A glimpse at the reasons and roots of the historical incident of November 4, 1979, at the former US Embassy in Tehran
The former US embassy is located in central Tehran, where the intersection of Taleghani Street and Mofatteh Street is now. However, at the time of its takeover, these two streets were named Takht-e Jamshid and Dolat Gate. The US embassy is approximately a 10-minute walk to the Tehran Bazaar and about a 5-minute walk to the embassies of Russia, Britain, and France. It is clear that the embassy’s location was cleverly chosen to gain an accurate understanding of the country’s social structure and people, independent of government propaganda. Americans could have had embassies in the best areas of Tehran like many other countries, but at that time, the embassy’s main function, obtaining an accurate image of the host country, took precedence. The urban structure of Taleghani and Mofatteh streets is almost the same as it was back then. The former embassy building on Taleghani Street is now home to the Handicrafts Bazaar, and Meshed Hotel and Sahra Hotel are in their original locations. Sahra Hotel was also referred to as the American Hotel. It is said that before the ill-fated Tabas Rescue mission, the Americans used the rooms of this hotel for espionage, surveillance, and monitoring the embassy – the place where diplomats were housed.
The embassy has undergone significant changes since 1979. Part of the northern section of the embassy has been transformed into a sports club, and in the southern part, a bookstore has been established. The walls have undergone fundamental changes and now bear revolutionary and anti-American slogans. These walls are often a subject for foreign photographers and videographers stationed in Tehran to address the issue of Iran-US relations. Leaving aside this exterior view, the interior of the embassy has changed. Several halls and buildings have been constructed, serving purposes ranging from conference rooms to restaurants and a prayer room. In the initial days after the embassy’s takeover, detained American diplomatic personnel were held there. Later, this complex was handed over to the Revolutionary Guard, becoming an educational center during the war. Subsequently, the Basij student foundation was established there and, currently, it is still located in this complex. The 13 Aban Student and Cultural Complex was founded in the main building of the embassy. The 13 Aban Garden Museum, also known as the Imperialism Museum, officially opened in Aban 1398 (October 2019); however, visits to this complex have been possible before that for schools and visitor groups through unofficial tours. Currently, this complex, with its relative renovation and the use of up-to-date facilities and technology, hosts visitors from various countries worldwide. Among the visitors to this museum, there are some ambassadors from countries that have a serious political and media position against imperialism and imperialistic policies, especially those of the United States in the world, and they actively work against the arrogant policies and interference of the United States.
Iranian hatred toward US government
To establish power balance in Western Asia, particularly to safeguard oil security in Iran in line with the interests of the United States, America directly intervened during the coup on August 19, 1953, alongside the UK. As a result of this coup, Dr. Mohammad Mosaddegh, the then Prime Minister of Iran, was removed from power, and Mohammad Reza Shah, who had temporarily gone to Italy, returned to power. This event has remained etched in the Iranian memory as a blatant interference by the Americans in their domestic affairs.
Despite the victory of the Islamic Revolution in February 1979, the United States continued to maintain its embassy in its current location, with the belief that this history of direct American involvement in Iran’s internal affairs and the suspicion that such interventions could recur in the future. The Iranian students, known as the Followers of the Imam’s Line, decided to take over the US embassy in Tehran. This move was influenced by the revelations of documents regarding American involvement, which were discovered and published later. These documents confirmed that the embassy had served as a center for the CIA’s multifaceted and multi-dimensional plans to overthrow or control the newly established Iranian revolution.
In addition to the political motives, some Iranian visitors consider this place to be American property, and its takeover to be illegal. They were unaware that this place was legally considered American property until evidence surfaced that the United States had been using this location and its unique technology to control Iran, as well as the countries in the region and the former Soviet Union during the Cold War, which was later confirmed by documents that were discovered by students.
What reactions do visitors have?
If we divide the visitors into two categories, domestic and foreign, domestic visitors usually come to this place with various and multifaceted motivations. These motivations range from understanding the reasons for the takeover to the motivations of the students who carried out the takeover, and even the fate of some of them. Given the developments in Iran’s foreign policy over the past decade, the motivations of domestic visitors toward America and its former embassy in Tehran differ. On one hand, domestic visitors want to know the connection between this former embassy and the issue of establishing or not establishing relations with America.
However, the motivations of foreign visitors to this place are quite different. Before they visit, they usually research it, often having watched the movie “Argo,” which references the takeover of this embassy and was produced by Hollywood. They want to understand the motivations of Iranians in carrying out the takeover and are interested in the current status of Iran’s relationship with America. They are aware that they might be scrutinized by their security agencies after returning to their countries to visit this place, but their curiosity outweighs their apprehensions. Some of them aim to have the guide of this place, which has now been transformed into a museum, provide them with the truth, free from the propaganda and political advertising that originate from its home base in Europe and America.
Embassy or
den of espionage?
Among the special equipment in this former embassy, which has been transformed into a cultural museum and a site against the intrusive policies of America, we can mention encryption and decryption equipment and satellite and radio communication systems.
In their time, these were considered highly advanced equipment. It’s evident that the presence of such equipment in any country’s embassy, which should defend its interests, is normal. However, the matter becomes serious and sensitive when, based on documents discovered by students and later based on certain admissions by Americans, it is revealed that the United States was using this location and these technologies for espionage against Iran’s interests and its people, and even for espionage against countries in the region.