Tehran, Iran (CNN) -- As Muslims have done elsewhere around the world, Iranians protested Friday an American pastor's threat to burn a copy of the Quran.
Crowds took to one of Tehran's main squares after Friday prayers, according to state-run Press TV. They chanted "Death to America" and "Death to the Zionist priest" and carried posters depicting Florida pastor Terry Jones as the devil.
Jones had planned to burn the Islamic holy book on the anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks but called off his plans.
Ayatollah Ahmad Jannai, who led Tehran's weekly Friday prayers, said the planned Quran desecration indicated "desperation of the arrogant powers against the vigilance of the Muslim nations," the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported.
Demonstrations over the Quran erupted in other nations as well this week, including Afghanistan, Somalia and India.
