Iran stages annual anti-US rally as hardliners intensify campaign against outreach to the West

In this picture released by the official website of the office of Iranian supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting with students in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015. Iran's supreme leader says the slogan "Death to America" is not aimed at the American people, but rather American policies. Khamenei's website says Tuesday he made the comment while meeting with Iranian students ahead of the anniversary of the takeover of the U.S. embassy in Tehran on Nov. 4, 1979. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP) (The Associated Press)

Iranian demonstrators chant slogans during an annual rally in front of the former U.S. Embassy in Tehran, marking 36th anniversary of the seizure of the embassy by militant Iranian students, Iran, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2015. The annual state-organized rally Wednesday drawing greater attention this year, as Iranian hardliners are intensifying a campaign to undermine President Hassan Rouhani's outreach to the West following a landmark nuclear deal reached with world powers in July. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) (The Associated Press)

Iranian demonstrators burn a representation of the U.S. flag during an annual rally in front of the former U.S. Embassy in Tehran, marking 36th anniversary of the seizure of the embassy by militant Iranian students, Iran, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2015. The annual state-organized rally Wednesday drawing greater attention this year, as Iranian hardliners are intensifying a campaign to undermine President Hassan Rouhani's outreach to the West following a landmark nuclear deal reached with world powers in July. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) (The Associated Press)

Thousands of Iranians burned the American flag and chanted slogans 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 Wednesday is drawing greater attention this year, as Iranian hardliners are intensifying a campaign to undermine President Hassan Rouhani's outreach to the West following a landmark nuclear deal reached with world powers in July.

Hardliners fear Rouhani's efforts to ease tensions may pave the way for U.S. influence in Iran.

On Nov. 4, 1979, militant students stormed the U.S. Embassy compound and took 52 Americans hostage for 444 days, after Washington refused to hand over the toppled Iranian shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, for trial in Iran. The two countries have had no diplomatic relations since then.