Iran vacates US Embassy in Tehran for the first time since 1979. What's brewing?

The Iranian government has asked the groups and organisations that are currently stationed in the US Embassy building in Tehran to evacuate it, according to reports. Speculations are rife that the Islamic Republic could be considering handing over the building to the Trump administration as talks between the countries move to the second round.

 

The report in this regard first appeared in a post by dissident lawyer and civil activist Hassan Younesi, according to Iran International. In the now-deleted post, Younesi said he "heard some groups and organizations stationed at the embassy building have been ordered to evacuate it." 

 

 The post quickly drew attention, partly because Younesi’s father, Ali Younesi, served as intelligence minister under former President Mohammad Khatami who served as the fifth president of Iran from 3 August 1997 to 3 August 2005.

 

The lawyer later clarified that he deleted the post after "responsible authorities" contacted him. The authorities denied the report, stating that his post had created the false impression that steps were being taken to prepare the embassy for a handover.  

 

Many X handles too speculations about "whispers in Iran" that the organisation that operated the 'Den of Spies' museum in the former US embassy in Tehran has been informed to wind down its operations and vacate.

 

However, rumours are that things could be thawing between the US and Iran after talks that started in a distrusting environment took a positive turn. Lead negotiators, US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the talks constructive. The duo reportedly spoke for over 45 minutes, longer than what was revealed to the media. 

 

The recent statement made by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian that  Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had "no objection" to American investors entering the Iranian market too had stoked the rumours. Many feel that for investments to enter Iran, a handover was mandatory.

 

Former Israeli official and spokesperson Ben Sabeti also weighed in on X: “Iran makes cheap gestures toward @POTUS for the success of negotiations? There are reports about the US Embassy in Tehran being vacated for the first time since 1979. Is the regime also ready to make nuclear concessions?”

 

The US Embassy in Tehran was seized by Iranian radicals on Nov. 4, 1979, taking diplomats, embassy staff, Marine guards and three CIA agents hostage. The students believed that the embassy was a "den of spies".

Though women and minority prisoners were soon released, over 52  remained in captivity for 444 days, subjected to solitary confinement, beatings, and mock executions.

Middle East