Chants against Saudi Arabia as Iran marks Jerusalem Day

Chants against the Saudi royal family and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) mingled with the traditional cries of "Death to Israel" and "Death to America" at Jerusalem Day rallies across Iran on June 23.

The annual show of solidarity with the Palestinians, which sees hundreds of thousands take to the streets, was launched by Iran's revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and is now marked by its allies across the Middle East.

This year's commemoration comes amid an intensifying battle for influence in the region between Shiite Iran and its Sunni archrival Saudi Arabia, who have had no diplomatic relations since January last year.

"Death to the House of Saud and Daesh [ISIL]," demonstrators chanted. "Death to America", "Death to Israel", "Death to the UK."

Iran has been heavily involved in the war against ISIL in both Iraq and Syria, where it has trained and advised militias to fight the jihadists.

On June 18, Iran fired six 750-kilometer range missiles at an ISIL base in eastern Syria, days after the jihadist group claimed twin bombing and shooting attacks in Tehran.

On June 23, Iran's Revolutionary Guards displayed some of the same Zolfaghar missiles used in the strike in Valiasr Square in the heart of the capital, alongside a 2,000-kilometer range Qadr missile.

The Tehran metro was operating for free, taking Iranians to and from the University of Tehran, where the main weekly Muslim prayers were held.

Some demonstrators burnt Israeli and American flags.

Other carried a coffin emblazoned with a picture of U.S. President Donald Trump and the slogan: "Death to America, death to the House of Saud."

In a speech to the crowd in the capital, parliament speaker...