The United States’ hostile attitude toward Iran is rooted in the Iranians’ steadfastness in standing up to Washington’s bullying, a commentator tells Press TV.

Jason Unruhe, a political commentator, told Press TV on Sunday — the anniversary of the 1979 takeover of the US embassy in Tehran — that the reason for the “constant, unending struggle against Iran” was that the country “has maintained its anti-imperialist position.”

The US is angry with the Iranian people because they are “maintaining their own independence and their freedom away from the [US] empire,” Unruhe said.

Meanwhile, Catherine Shakdam, a fellow at Al-Bayan Center for Planning and Studies, also told Press TV that Iran was promoting the idea that “countries have the right to resist oppression,” but Washington did not “understand the nature of sovereignty and nationalism in the way that is being expressed in the Islamic Revolution.”

She said the Iranian people have demonstrated “defiance against America’s establishment” and support for the leadership of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

People have held rallies in more than 1,000 cities and towns across Iran to mark the anniversary of the 1979 takeover of the US embassy in Tehran.