Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and a prominent cleric say that the slogan “death to America” will be sounded on November 4, the country’s annual “Grand Day of Death to America,” which coincides with the anniversary of the takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979.

The “Death to America” slogan has been chanted for more than three decades at state events, including Friday Prayers.

There have been calls to refrain from the chants, in view of Iran’s recent attempts to convince the world that it has become more moderate, and the thawing of relations with the US. However, Tehran’s Provisional Friday prayers leader, Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, said on Friday that the Islamic Republic would continue talks with the US, while simultaneously using the slogan “Death to America.”

“The representatives of the European Union say they pursue talks and [exert] pressure at the same time, [so] we too [will] push ahead with talks and the ‘Death to America’ slogan at the same time,” Ayatollah Khatami was quoted as saying by state media.

News agency Fars quoted an official statement by the IRGC that said, “The slogan ‘Death to America’ reflects the Islamic doctrine of resistance to imperialism, and also symbolizes Iran’s strength.”

The statement, which appears on the official IRGC website, says that the slogan “Death to America” will continue to reflect Iran’s world view for a long time to come, and that it will be used during the “Grand Day of Death to America.”

The IRGC explained that the statement still holds true because the US “is still the Great Satan and the first enemy of the Iranian nation.”