Den of Espionage USA Embassy - Tehran
Background
US Den of Espionage is a former USA embassy located at Taleqani Street in Tehran. This is the name given to this place by the locals. This is where the 1953 coup that brought down Mohammad Mossadegh was orchestrated. The last Shah of Iran was supported by the USA and this is where the planning was of whole operation began. On November 4, 1979, students supporting the Iranian Revolution leader, Ayatollah Khomeini, stormed and seized the American embassy.
Now, walls of the embassy has numerous murals. They point to the Iranian attitude towards the USA and how things had been played in this country by the USA. It represents a state of affairs between the two countries where Iran has distanced herself from the American intervention in any of their internal affairs. It is an interesting place to visit but sometimes guards move the visitors away from the walls of the embassy.
Helicopter from the Operation Eagle Claw
Some of the images represent innocent realities of life, sometimes depicted in the form of birds. The American flag is heavily used on the walls to show how USA controls the rest of the world. In one mural, a group of protesters is moving together, it may refer to the events that unfolded in 1979. A seal is still visible at the entrance of the former embassy. Here, 53 American diplomats were taken hostage for 444 days in 1979. A piece of helicopter wreckage from April 1980’s Operation Eagle Claw sits above the wall.
Murals
There are many anti American sentiments written on the wall. Lots of these writings refer to the saying of the Iranian leaders who see USA as their enemy. A difference in ideology or a political rift, hard to tell but either way Iran is holding it’s ground against the USA. One photo shows US Capitol building back-dropped by a version of the Stars and Stripes and also in the upper corner is Star of David (a reference to Israel).
For right or wrong reasons, this building still makes a great visit, while in Tehran.
