[Guest post by DRJ]

Iranian demonstrators marked the thirtieth anniversary of the takeover of the American Embassy in Tehran:

“Iranian protesters took to the streets today as they do every Nov. 4 to mark the 30th anniversary of the U.S. embassy takeover.”

Amid chants of “Death to America” there were also cries of “death to the dictator,” a reference to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. There was another difference, too:

“Opposition supporters, meanwhile, are trying to discourage Washington from negotiating with Tehran. Some protesters today chanted, “Obama, Obama, you’re with them or you’re with us,” a rhyming verse in Persian expressing frustration at U.S. open engagement with Ahmadinejad’s government.

“People are asking him to be clear. They don’t want to see him in talks with the regime. They want to make it easier for people to get a visa, do something that could help people have better lives,” said one protester.”

Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

— DRJ