Iran braces for mass demonstrations

TEHRAN, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Iranian authorities announced on Tuesday gatherings for the 30th anniversary of the U.S. Embassy seizure would take place at the compound.

Iranians students raided the U.S. Embassy in Tehran on Nov. 4, 1979, taking the embassy staff hostage. They were released 444 days later.

Iranians have marked the anniversary as a time to demonstrate against global arrogance each year in front of the embassy building, Iran's state-funded broadcaster Press TV said.

Brig. Gen. Massoud Jazayeri, the deputy head of the Iranian military, called on Iranians to remain on guard against plots by the "enemy" to cause disturbances during the demonstrations planned for Wednesday.

A military statement warned of possible "psychological warfare" from those seeking to cause unrest in the country.

Iran witnessed massive demonstrations in the wake of June presidential elections as supporters of defeated candidate and former Prime Minister Mir Hossein Mousavi protested against the disputed victory for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Iranian authorities warned Mousavi supporters and members of the Reformist opposition against holding demonstrations that Tehran would consider "illegal," Press TV reported.

"The police will strongly confront people or groups intending to create unrest and unlawful behavior, based on its legal responsibilities," the military statement read.