The Hostage Crisis : The Cause Of The Iranian Hostageage Crisis

In January 1979, Iranians opposed to the Shah’s rule invaded the American embassy in Tehran and held a group of 52 American diplomats and other hostages for 444 days. The Shah left Iran and the victorious Ayatollah Khomeini returned that February. Of the approximately 90 people inside the embassy, 52 remained in captivity until the end of the crisis. The reputation of the Ayatollah Khomeini and the hostage taking was further enhanced with the failure of a hostage rescue attempt that cost lives. The Ayatollah Khomeini set forth several demands to be met prior to the release of the hostages. The US had options of their own; however, the risk to the hostages required the utmost consideration. In order to secure their freedom, outgoing

The American public was so captivated by the Iran Hostage Crisis because they were blindsided by this radical action and their knowledge of America’s involvement in Iran was limited. The media played a major role in influencing their emotions and they already had trouble trusting the American government. This unknown involvement began in 1943 when President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin met in Tehran to discuss how to remove the British and Soviet military forces from Iran because Iran wanted to be its own nation. The United States aided the young Shah, the ruler of Iran, and his government with military weapons and loans. Over time, Prime Minister Mossadegh, of Iran, gained more and more power until he was the true ruler of Iran and the Shah was just a figurehead. The United States, fearing the spread of communism, devised a secret plan for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), to over throw Prime Minister Mossadegh.

The Iranian hostage crisis was one of the most dramatic events in a series of problems that took place during President Jimmy Carter’s term. The crisis, beginning in November of 1979, received the most coverage of any major event since World War II. It was one of many problems faced in light of the United State’s complex relationship with Iran. The effects on both the US and Iran were astronomical, especially politically as well as economically and socially. It took a heavy toll on American relations with the Middle East and changed the way we engage in foreign affairs. In light of this crisis, Iran started an international war that we are still fighting thirty-two years later.

In late 1979, Iranian militants seized the U.S. embassy in Tehran. They trapped ninety hostages. The Iranian militants demanded the return of Shah Reza Pahlavi. Ayatollah Khomeini, the leader of the Iranians, released some of the hostages but held 52 of them to use as pawns to get Pahlavi. In the Middle East, most hostages are released after a few days, but Carter was forced to start negotiations for their release.

Carter’s biggest failure was indeed the Iranian Hostage Crisis that lasted up until the preceding president’s first day in office. In November 1979, Islamic militants who were supporters of the Ayatollah took-over the American Embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans

The US government tried to negotiate, rescue and embargo Iran for the hostages taken under Carters administration. They were released when Reagan was elected. He dealt from a position of power and the Iranians respected that.

On the first day of his presidency 66 American diplomats that were held hostage in Iran for 444 days were released. The 444 day period of captivity of is referred to as the “Iranian Hostage Crisis”. Due to how Jimmy Carter, the President at the time, stretched the boundaries set by the new Iranian leader Ruhollah Khomeini this situation ruined the relationship with a major gas and oil provider, Iran. While Reagan was in office he appointed Sandra Day O’Connor, a woman, to

The crisis made the relations between the united States and Iran very bitter. The Iranians also developed strong and contempt feelings toward President Jimmy Carter. Carter failed at attempting to secure the hostages’ freedoms and that decreased his popularity. This crisis caused the Iranian Revolution to get moved along and become a bigger problem. An oil conflict also resulted because the United States then had trouble getting oil from Iran. After the hostage crisis, the U.S. then looked at Iranians as terrorists and did not have

On November 4, 1979, a group of Iranian students barged inside the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and took more than 60 Americans hostages. This gave the Ronald Reagan the opportunity and the advantage of President Carter’s difficulties. There were rumors that circulated that the Reagan campaign staff negotiated with the Iranian people to be sure the American hostages not be released before the election which Ronald Reagan was running against President Carter. On Election Day, it has been one year and two days since the Americans were captive, Ronald Reagan defeated Carter in the presidential by a landslide. On January 21, 1981, just a few hours after the new President Ronald Reagan delivered his inaugural speech, the remaining American hostages were released. President Reagan has always denied the allegations with the negotiation with the Iranian people.

The Iran Hostage Crisis was a discretionary standoff between Iran and the United States. In 1979, a group of Iranian students went to the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking more than 60 American hostages. Fifty-two hostages were held for 444 days, from November 4, 1979, to January 20, 1981. The reputation of Iran's leader, Ayatollah Khomeini, started to become awful as the Hostage Crisis kept going. Ayatollah Khomeini was the Iranian Shia Muslim religious leader and politician and he made several demands that needed to be met before the hostages were released. The Iran Hostage Crisis caused the United States to cut ties with Iran and was an exemplary demonstration of America’s resolve to ensure the safe return of our citizens.

The Iran Hostage Crisis changed the political connections between the United States and Iran for several years to come. The Iran Hostage Crisis became a symbol of America 's global power and influence On November 4, 1979, Iranian students stormed the US embassy in Tehran, Iran, and took sixty-three Americans hostage. The students agreed that the hostages would not be released until the Shah returned to “Iran to stand trial for the crimes committed against the Iranian people.” (Bechtel). Despite the Shah’s treatment of the Iranian people, the President Carted allowed the Shah into the United States to receive medical treatment. Although President Carter made attempts to negotiate the hostages released, he failed several times. Because of his failures he was viewed inept and ineffective in regards to the crisis. The hostages were released on January 20, 1981, the day that President Ronald Reagan was sworn into office. This paper will discuss the main reason why the hostages were taken, and why they were not released sooner.

The most embarrassing episode of the Carter administration was the Iranian Hostage Crisis. On November 3, 1979, 90 people were taken hostage by militant students who demanded the return and trial of the overthrown Shah who was in New York being treated for cancer. The U.S threatened and made investigatory commissions but really did nothing. On April 24, the U.S made a dramatic attempt to rescue the hostages, but after some complications,

If you want to blame someone for the Hostage Crisis, blame the former Iranian Shah who was exiled from the country. While in exile, the Shah developed a fatal cancer and the president at the time, Jimmy Carter, allowed him to come to the U.S. for treatment. This was the last straw for Iran. The US had already been interfering and causing Iran’s economy to suffer because they feared of a nuclear development happening in Iran. On November 4, 1979, a mob of Iranians stormed the U.S. Embassy and took everyone inside hostage. They took 66

Fifty two American diplomats and citizens were held hostage for 444 days from November 4, 1979, to January 20, 1981 after a group of Iranian students belonging to the Muslim Student Followers of the Imam’s Line who supported the Iranian Revolution, took over the U.S Embassy in Tehran. After a power struggle between Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi of Iran and his prime minister, the Shah gained the support of the United States in preventing the nationalization of Iran’s oil industry. In return the Shah received economic and military aid from the United States. With increased American policy influence, Shah Pahlavi moved towards economic and social reforms of the Iranian government. However, these reforms were criticized by the Iranian nationalists. Eventually after weeks of violent demonstrations towards the Shah, he fled Iran.To the Iranians it seemed as if the United States was protecting the hated Shah because President Carter had let him into the United States for cancer

This paper will begin by providing background information on the Iranian Hostage Crises, then shifts to the different viewpoints taken by the divisions of the executive branch. This will provide the different policy options and supporting actors. The final part of the paper will focus on the foreign policy outcome.