The Iranian news agency Fars last week ran a story in which the head of a local Islamist organisation was quoted as saying that American flags were not to be burnt any more — only those of Israel.
The quote from the group, which is closely linked to the regime’s feared Revolutionary Guards, caused a public storm.
The news agency quickly deleted the report from its website, and replaced it with a statement from the Islamist organisation saying that this year, cries of “Death to America” and “Death to Israel”, as well as “Death to conceit”, should continue.
“The United States continues to be the Great Satan,” the organisation announced.
A few months ago, it was reported that the slogans wishing “death to America” were erased from the walls of the former American embassy, a move presumed to result from the nuclear agreement signed with the US.
Meanwhile, fresh business deals with American companies continue to be announced. According to Iranian media reports, Microsoft has signed a deal with an Iranian company to represent it in the country.
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