Update: Iran marks Jerusalem Day in solidarity with Palestinians

Hundreds of thousands of Iranians held nationwide rallies on Friday to mark Al-Quds, or Jerusalem Day, in support of the Palestinians and condemnation of Israel's continued occupation of Palestinian lands.

The ralliers chanted anti-Israel slogans and carried banners, denouncing what they called "war crimes" against Palestinians in Gaza and in the occupied territories.

In the capital Tehran, a number of Iranian government officials, military commanders and lawmakers also participated in the rally and reiterated the Islamic republic's solidarity with the Palestinians in "their strive to achieve their rights."

Al-Quds Day is an annual event that began in Iran in 1979 and is observed on the last Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in Iran and several Muslim countries.

Israelis and Palestinians have held several rounds of peace talks. However, they have failed to settle issues including the Jerusalem, security, Jewish settlements, borders and Palestinian refugees.

In recent years, the bloody conflicts between the Jewish state and the Islamic militants in Gaza Strip resulted in the death of more than 1,000 Palestinians and tens of Israelis.

On Friday, Iran's First Vice President Eshaq Jahanghiri who attended the rallies in Tehran drew on ongoing nuclear talks between Iran and the world powers, saying that the United States and its allies should stop their excessive demands in the talks for a comprehensive deal over the country's disputed nuclear program.

"If the West retreats from its excessive demands, we can reach a good agreement," Jahanghiri said

"Ongoing talks in Vienna are complicated and difficult... and as the negotiations near the last hours of the deadline, they become even more difficult," he said.

Earlier in the day, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif blamed the western side for "hindering" progress in the talks.

Certain parties have changed their stances from the earlier agreements and have posed new demands, he said.

"Unfortunately, we are witnessing both shifts in the positions and excessive demands, and we are also witnessing that a number of countries in the P5+1 group have different stances, and this has made the situation even difficult," Zarif was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency.

Zarif reiterated that the West should choose between exerting pressures on Iran or making political decision for an agreement, since these double strategies cannot be collected.

Talks between Iran and five UN Security Council permanent members plus Germany have extended into a second overtime after missing the deadlines of June 30 and July 7. Endit