The Former Iranian Embassy in Washington, D.C.
In a reciprocal move following the 1979 crisis, the U.S. Department of State seized the Iranian Embassy in Washington, D.C., located on Massachusetts Avenue. Iran’s interests in the United States are now handled through the Interests Section of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which operates out of the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington. This arrangement, too, is limited and highly regulated.
A Symbol of a Geopolitical Fault Line
The former U.S. Embassy in Tehran has evolved into something far more than a disused diplomatic facility. It is now a site of political theater, national memory, and historical interpretation. Its continued presence and the narratives built around it underscore the deep ideological divide between the Islamic Republic and the United States.
While U.S. officials and media continue to refer to the building as the former embassy, Iranian officials emphasize its transformation and regularly use it for propaganda purposes. State media celebrates its murals and exhibitions as a reminder of resistance to imperialism.