A severe backlash against Iranians in the United States developed. However, in 1951 Irans newly elected prime minister, a European-educated nationalist named Muhammad Mossadegh, announced a plan to nationalize the countrys oil industry. As Ayatollah Khomeini told Iran's president: This has united our people. The United States responded by stating that Iran was free to make financial claims against the shah in U.S. courts and further declared that it would support establishing an international commission to investigate purported human rights abuses under the shahs regime; as a precondition of any such actions, however, the hostages would have to be returned. They originally won the case when Iran failed to provide a defense, but the State Department then tried to end the lawsuit,[149] fearing that it would make international relations difficult. [51], As Khomeini's followers had hoped, Khomeini supported the takeover. Iran Hostage Crisis | Encyclopedia.com The crisis spanned the U.S. presidencies of Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. Iranian propaganda stated that the hostages were "guests" and it also stated that they were being treated with respect. Early the next morning, the remaining six helicopters met up with several waiting Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport aircraft at a landing site and refueling area designated "Desert One". The UK retaliated by reducing the amount of revenue which the Iranian government received. The duration of the hostages' captivity has also been attributed to internal Iranian revolutionary politics. The United States did not participate in the invasion but it secured Iran's independence after the war ended by applying intense diplomatic pressure on the Soviet Union which forced it to withdraw from Iran in 1946. "[94] The hostage-takers played Russian roulette with their victims. The remaining 52 captives remained at the mercy of the Ayatollah for the next 14 months. In January 1979, the Shah fled into exile. "[35], On the morning of February 14, 1979, the Organization of Iranian People's Fedai Guerrillas stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and took a Marine named Kenneth Kraus hostage. The shah arrived in New York City on October 22. Presidential Decisions: The Iran Hostage Crisis | Harry S. Truman [88] Others reported having their hands bound "day and night" for days[89] or even weeks,[90] long periods of solitary confinement,[91] and months of being forbidden to speak to one another[92] or to stand, walk, or leave their space unless they were going to the bathroom. [164] After failing in the courts, the former hostages turned to Congress and won support from both Democrats and Republicans, resulting in Congress passing a bill (2015 United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Act [USVSST]) in December 2015 that afforded the hostages compensation from a fund to be financed from fines imposed on companies found guilty of breaking American sanctions against Iran. In November 1980, Carter lost the presidential election to Republican Ronald Reagan. Its work, the study said, was "routine, prudent espionage conducted at diplomatic missions everywhere. The remaining 52 hostages were held until January 1981, up to 444 days of captivity. HISTORY.com works with a wide range of writers and editors to create accurate and informative content. Six American diplomats who had evaded capture were rescued by a joint CIACanadian effort on January 27, 1980. 1 / 29 Flashcards Learn Test Match Q-Chat Beta Created by caitlynkassab1 Terms in this set (29) What was the Iran Hostage Crisis and when did it begin? ABC News president Roone Arledge hoped that it would draw viewers away from the NBC juggernaut The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. During the weeks leading up to Christmas in 1979, high school students made cards that were delivered to the hostages. This meant that each hostage would be paid up to US$4.4 million. The Shahs government was secular, anti-communist and pro-Western. The first time, he was kept in handcuffs for two weeks,[96] and the second time, he was beaten and kept alone in a freezing cell for two weeks. The next attempt to seize the American Embassy was planned for September 1979 by Ebrahim Asgharzadeh, a student at the time. Secrets", "Secrecy & Government Bulletin, Issue 70", "American Ambassador Recalls Israeli Assassination AttemptWith U.S. HISTORY.com works with a wide range of writers and editors to create accurate and informative content. [132][133] There are theories and conspiracy theories regarding why Iran postponed the release until that moment. President Jimmy Carter was unable to diplomatically resolve the crisis, and on April 24, 1980, he ordered a disastrous rescue mission in which eight U.S. military personnel were killed and no hostages rescued. Not only that, the Iran Hostage Crisis was fully resolved during . Iranian Hostage Crisis Flashcards | Quizlet The consensus of the international community was against the Iranian seizure of the hostages, and diplomats from various countries sought to intervene on their behalf. Leftist People's Mujahedin of Iran supported the taking of hostages at the US embassy. Later, victims of the 1983 Beirut bombings also instituted claims against USVSST fund. "[7] U.S. President Jimmy Carter called the hostage-taking an act of "blackmail" and the hostages "victims of terrorism and anarchy. 40 years after launching hostage crisis, Iran less trustworthy than ever In a leaky old building in Fort Meade, Md., a psychic hired by American spies had a mind-bending breakthrough. A female student was given a pair of metal cutters to break the chains locking the embassy's gates and hid them beneath her chador. All Rights Reserved. "[114] Television news gave daily updates. The provisional government had been appointed by Khomeini, so Khomeini was likely to go along with the government's request to restore order. 6 saw a warning light indicating that a main rotor might be cracked. At about 6:30a.m., the ringleaders gathered between three hundred and five hundred selected students and briefed them on the battle plan. [36] Kraus was injured in the attack, kidnapped by the militants, tortured, tried, and convicted of murder. [19][bettersourceneeded] In 1953, the CIA and MI6 helped Iranian royalists depose Mosaddegh in a military coup d'tat codenamed Operation Ajax, allowing the Shah to extend his power. Iran Hostage Crisis Ends - HISTORY [140] Ten days after their release, they were given a ticker tape parade through the Canyon of Heroes in New York City. Revolutionary teams displayed secret documents purportedly taken from the embassy, sometimes painstakingly reconstructed after shredding,[65] to buttress their claim that the U.S. was trying to destabilize the new regime. The source of tension between Iran and the U.S. stemmed from an increasingly intense conflict over oil. After the mission and its failure were made known publicly, Khomeini credited divine intervention on behalf of Islam, and his prestige skyrocketed in Iran. Media related to Iran hostage crisis at Wikimedia Commons, This article is about the siege of the American embassy in Tehran. In July 1979, the revolutionaries forced the Shah to disband his government and flee to Egypt. The Iran hostage crisis of 1979-1981 ranks as one of the most traumatic diplomatic events in U.S. history. By March, the doors to their living space were kept "chained and padlocked."[80]. They were not allowed to speak or read, and they were rarely permitted to change clothes. [125] The report found that the pilot of No. [82] The final holding area, from November 1980 until their release, was the Teymur Bakhtiar mansion in Tehran, where the hostages were finally given tubs, showers, and hot and cold running water. In November 1979, 66 Americans were taken hostage after supporters of Iran's Islamic Revolution took over the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, Iran. (For the most part, these 13 were women, African-Americans and citizens of countries other than the U.S.people who, Khomeini argued, were already subject to the oppression of American society.) Some time later, a 14th hostage developed health problems and was likewise sent home. The new Iranian regime demanded his return in order to stand trial for the crimes he was accused of committing against Iranians during his rule through his secret police. As a result, a federal judge ruled that no damages could be awarded to the hostages because of the agreement the United States had made when the hostages were freed. The Iran Hostage Hostage Crisis Flashcards | Quizlet According to Foreign Minister Yazdi, when he went to Qom to tell Khomeini about it, Khomeini told him to "go and kick them out." Diplomatic maneuvers had no discernible effect on the Ayatollahs anti-American stance; neither did economic sanctions such as the seizure of Iranian assets in the United States. [57] As some of the student leaders had hoped, Iran's moderate prime minister, Bazargan, and his cabinet resigned under pressure just days after the takeover. What was the Iran hostage crisis really like? : r/history - Reddit Zia Nassry Afghan American. 2023, A&E Television Networks, LLC. Who was the U.S. president during the Iran hostage crisis? In the first couple of days, many of the embassy workers who had sneaked out of the compound or had not been there at the time of the takeover were rounded up by Islamists and returned as hostages. Relations are maintained through the Iranian Interests Section of the Pakistani Embassy and the U.S. The initial public response in Iran was moderate, but on November 4 the embassy was attacked by a mob of perhaps 3,000, some of whom were armed and who, after a short siege, took 63 American men and women hostage. Corrections? Fast Facts: Iran Hostage Crisis Short Description: The 444-day Iran hostage crisis of 1979-80 irrevocably damaged U.S.-Iranian relations, molded future U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, and possibly determined the outcome of the 1980 U.S. presidential election. The Iran hostage crisis ended after negotiations held in 1980 and early 1981, with Algerian diplomats acting as intermediaries. "[146], The Iranian government commemorates the event every year with a demonstration at the embassy and the burning of an Americanflag. On Nov. 4, 1979 just months after militants loyal to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini seized control of the country Iranian . A sustained effort by the United States to counter Soviet influence in the Middle East resulted in the Arab Oil Embargo of 1973-74 and brought about a 350-percent increase in the cost of oil. His decision was humanitarian, not political; nevertheless, as one American later noted, it was like throwing a burning branch into a bucket of kerosene. Anti-American sentiment in Iran exploded. The Muslim Student Followers of the Imam's Line demanded that Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi return to Iran for trial and execution. All were released by late 1982. Six helicopters was thought to be the absolute minimum required for the rescue mission, so with the force reduced to five, the local commander radioed his intention to abort. 'Call of Duty: Black Ops - Cold War' Doesn't Seem to Know - The Wrap An anti-Iranian protest in Washington, D.C., in 1979. With the completion of negotiations signified by the signing of the Algiers Accords on January 19, 1981, the hostages were released on January 20, 1981. Khomeini biographer, Baqer Moin, described the crisis as "a watershed in Khomeini's life" that transformed him from "a cautious, pragmatic politician" into "a modern revolutionary single-mindedly pursuing a dogma." In addition, attempts had been made to arrive at a modus vivendi with Irans provisional government, and during the spring and summer the Iranian authorities sought to strengthen security around the embassy complex. [110], As the hostages were taken to the aircraft that would fly them out of Tehran, they were led through a gauntlet of students forming parallel lines and shouting, "Marg bar Amrika" ("death to America"). "[107], The cruelty of the Iranian prison guards became "a form of slow torture. After a short period of time, 13 of these hostages were released. Hostages in Iran Fly to Freedom After 444-Day Ordeal", "Iranian Hostages Released 1981 Year in Review Audio", "The Republican myth of Ronald Reagan and the Iran hostages, debunked", "Did Iran Delay Hostages Release To Ensure Reagan's Election? By embracing the hostage-taking under the slogan "America can't do a thing," Khomeini rallied support and deflected criticism of his controversial theocratic constitution,[66] which was scheduled for a referendum vote in less than one month. Espionage Den (Persian: ). [51], The U.S. military later awarded the 20 servicemen among the hostages the Defense Meritorious Service Medal. 6 in the desert without destroying it. Mosaddegh led a general strike, demanding an increased share of the nation's petroleum revenue from the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company which was operating in Iran. All State Department and CIA employees who were taken hostage received the State Department Award for Valor. [56] His initial response was to appeal for the release of the hostages on humanitarian grounds and to share his hopes for a strategic anti-communist alliance with the Ayatollah. The operation was supposed to send an elite rescue team into the embassy compound. Asgharzadeh later said there were five students at the first meeting, two of whom wanted to target the Soviet Embassy because the USSR was "a Marxist and anti-God regime". On November 17, 1979, about two weeks after the Iran hostage crisis began, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini ordered the release of 13 hostages, all women or African Americans, claiming that they were unlikely to be spies. One obvious question is: if this level of coordination between hostile states in the midst of a crisis is possible, why can't the crisis simply be resolved by the same diplomats without the performative aspects? Consequently, by the start of the hostage crisis, the embassy staff had been cut from more than 1,400 men and women before the revolution to about 70. In exchange for tens of millions of dollars in foreign aid, he returned 80 percent of Irans oil reserves to the Americans and the British. A State Department diplomatic cable of November 8, 1979, details "A Tentative, Incomplete List of U.S. . [99] Jerry Miele, a CIA communications technician, smashed his head into the corner of a door, knocking himself unconscious and cutting a deep gash. "[85], The actual treatment of the hostages was far different. The Iranian hostage crisis and its effect on American politics Find History on Facebook (Opens in a new window), Find History on Twitter (Opens in a new window), Find History on YouTube (Opens in a new window), Find History on Instagram (Opens in a new window), Find History on TikTok (Opens in a new window). Updates? Iran hostage crisis - Wikipedia [143] However, anti-Americanism intensified and the crisis served to benefit those Iranians who had supported it. 6 would have continued the mission if instructed to do so. These events led the Iranian government to enter negotiations with the U.S., with Algeria acting as a mediator. Meanwhile, while the hostages were never seriously injured, they were subjected to a rich variety of demeaning and terrifying treatment. [67] The referendum was successful, and after the vote, both leftists and theocrats continued to use allegations of pro-Americanism to suppress their opponents: relatively moderate political forces that included the Iranian Freedom Movement, the National Front, Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Kazem Shariatmadari,[68][69] and later President Abolhassan Banisadr. To do this and not expect Iran to react in some way was the height of diplomatic malpractice and recklessness. [34] The occupation of the embassy on November 4, 1979, was also intended as leverage to demand the return of the Shah to stand trial in Iran in exchange for the hostages. Organization of Iranian People's Fedai Guerrillas, Ruhollah Khomeini Mohammad Mousavi Khoeiniha[3], The Iran hostage crisis was a diplomatic standoff between the United States and Iran. The Ayatollah Khomeini, Irans political and religious leader, took over the hostage situation, refusing all appeals to release the hostages, even after the U.N. Security Council demanded an end to the crisis in an unanimous vote. Three of the hostages were operatives of the CIA. Beginning in 1953, when the United States helped to overthrow the popular Iranian prime minister Mohammad Mosaddeq (1882-1967), Iran condemned the United States as an oppressive power that interfered in foreign governments. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! We strive for accuracy and fairness. Supporters of the takeover claimed that in 1953, the American Embassy had been used as a "den of spies" from which the coup was organized. [167][168] In 1992, Gary Sick, the former national security adviser to Ford and Carter, presented the strongest accusations in an editorial that appear in The New York Times, and others, including former Iranian president Abolhassan Banisadr, repeated and added to them. They are our guests. This request was passed through military channels to President Carter, who agreed.[127]. Efty, Alex; 'If Shah Not Returned, Khomeini Sets Trial for Other Hostages'; Muslim Student Followers of the Imam's Line, pressure on the Soviet Union which forced it to withdraw from Iran in 1946, Iran University of Science and Technology, Portal:Documents Seized from the US Embassy in Tehran, Learn how and when to remove this template message, 2011 attack on the British Embassy in Iran, 2016 attack on the Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran, Attack on the United States embassy in Baghdad, Case Concerning United States Diplomatic and Consular Staff in Tehran, List of foreign nationals detained in Iran, United Nations Security Council Resolution 457, "444 Days in the Dark: An Oral History of the Iran Hostage Crisis", "History, Travel, Arts, Science, People, Places | Smithsonian", "Thirty-five years after Iranian hostage crisis, the aftershocks remain", Reagan's Lucky Day: Iranian Hostage Crisis Helped The Great Communicator To Victory, "A Review Of US Unilateral Sanctions Against Iran", "Country name calling: the case of Iran vs. Persia", "Shah's surgeons unblock bile duct and also remove his gallbladder", "Daugherty | Jimmy Carter and the 1979 Decision to Admit the Shah into the United States", "Weak Understanding is Cause of Bad Iran Policies", "Stephen Kinzer on US-Iranian Relations, the 1953 CIA Coup in Iran and the Roots of Middle East Terror", "Journal of Homeland Security review of Mark Bowden's "Guests of the Ayatollah", "National Archives and Records Administration, Access to Archival Databases (AAD): Central Foreign Policy Files, created 7/1/1973 12/31/1979; Electronic Telegrams, 1979 (searchable database)", "7 Years after Embassy Seizure, Iran Still Prints U.S. They landed in the desert, confirmed visually that a crack had started to develop, and stopped flying in accordance with normal operating procedure. The hostage taking was a new thing for a nation that had previously only accepted cash for their demands. Inside the CIA psychic squad that helped get US hostages out of Iran 2. continuing political and economic sanctions. They had been in captivity for 444 days. [115] In January 1980, the CBS Evening News anchor Walter Cronkite began ending each show by saying how many days the hostages had been captive. Iran hostage crisis | Definition, Summary, Causes, Significance 03/03/2023 History High School answered expert verified How was the iran hostage crisis resolved? Carter's failure to resolve the hostage crisis doomed his 1980 . The report by Holloway's group pointed out that a cracked helicopter blade could have been used to continue the mission and that its likelihood of catastrophic failure would have been low for many hours, especially at lower flying speeds. "Our aim was to object against the American government by going to their embassy and occupying it for several hours," Asgharzadeh said. When the authorities encouraged them to chant "death to America," the protesters instead chanted "death to the dictator" (referring to Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) and other anti-government slogans.[147]. The Iran Hostage Crisis - Pieces of History At the same time, his intense focus on bringing the hostages home kept him away from the campaign trail. A small number of hostages, not captured at the embassy, were taken in Iran during the same time period. Rubio made his claim about the 1981 hostage crisis on Jan. 17 on NBC's "Meet . However, many Iranians bitterly resented what they saw as American intervention in their affairs. [78] The only African-American hostage not released that month was Charles A. Jones, Jr.[79] One more hostage, a white man named Richard Queen, was released in July 1980 after he became seriously ill with what was later diagnosed as multiple sclerosis. The crisis, which took place during the chaotic aftermath of Irans Islamic revolution (197879) and its overthrow of the Pahlavi monarchy, had dramatic effects on domestic politics in the United States and poisoned U.S.-Iranian relations for decades. The report found that the pilot could have continued to the refueling point if he had been told that better weather awaited him there, but because of the command for radio silence, he did not ask about the conditions ahead. They described beatings,[86] theft,[87] and fear of bodily harm. The Iran hostage crisis had its origins in a series of events that took place nearly a half-century before it began. The problem, of course, is that in the real world Reagan was inaugurated into his first term as president on January 20, 1981. They were blindfolded and paraded in front of TV cameras and jeering crowds. All articles are regularly reviewed and updated by the HISTORY.com team. Asgharzadeh, the leader of the students, described the original plan as a nonviolent and symbolic action in which the students would use their "gentle and respectful treatment" of the hostages to dramatize the offended sovereignty and dignity of Iran to the entire world. [142] The United States supplied Iraq with, among other things, "helicopters and satellite intelligence that was used in selecting bombing targets." On Election Day, one year and two days after the hostage crisis began, Reagan defeated Carter in a landslide. However, in October 1979 President Carter agreed to allow the exiled leader to enter the U.S. for treatment of an advanced malignant lymphoma. Throughout the crisis there was a frightening uncertainty about their fate: The hostages never knew whether they were going to be tortured, murdered or set free. On November 4, 1979, just after the Shah arrived in New York, a group of pro-Ayatollah students smashed the gates and scaled the walls of the American embassy in Tehran. Cynthia Dwyer American reporter, arrested May 5, 1980, charged with espionage and freed on February 10, 1981. An American delegation headed by former U.S. attorney general Ramsey Clarkwho had long-standing relations with many Iranian officialswas refused admission to Iran. In Khomeini's statements, imperialism and liberalism were "negative words," while revolution "became a sacred word, sometimes more important than Islam.
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