Iranian Hostage Crisis
America blames Carter
A quick summary
On November 4, 1979, fifty two American diplomats and citizens were held hostage. A group of Iranian student who strongly supported the Iranian Revolution took over the US Embassy in Tehran and managed to take all these people. The cause of their action was due to the United States letting Shah enter for medical treatment, and not wanting to return him to Iran for trials of the crimes he committed. This created many issues between the United States and Iran.
Carter stated that the US was not going to fall into blackmail and on April 24, 1980, tried a rescue mission that failed miserably. Many things happened after this such as Shah dying and Iraq attacking Iran all playing a part in Carter loosing re-election in 1980. The day of Reagan's inauguration, the United States released almost $8 billion in Iranian assets and the hostages were freed. All 52 had spent 444 days, (November 4, 1979 - January 20, 1981) in Iranian detention and were later given treatment. In 2000 former hostages and their survivors sued Iran under the 1996 anti terrorism act and won.
Protesting
A man holding a a sign during a protest of the crisis in Washington D.C., in 1979. It reads "Deport all Iranians"
A hostage
Hostage Barry Rosen, Age 34.
The hostages are ok.
A group photograph of the hostages at the hospital.
America's reaction
After the Iranian hostage crisis (1979–1981), the walls of the former U.S. embassy in Tehran were covered in mostly anti-American murals.
Iran Hostage Crisis 1979 (ABC News Report From 12/3/1979)
What caused the 1979 US Embassy Hostage Crisis in Iran?