The U.S. Hostage Crisis in Iran 444 Days in Captivity

Background of the Shah  Reza Shah First came to power during WWII (1 st shah)  Deposed in the late forties  a CIA-led coup in 1953 approved by the Eisenhower administration put Mohammed Reza Shah in power (Reza Shaw’s son)

The “White Revolution”  Divested the clergy of their vast landholdings  Declared new rights for women Right to vote Right to attend university  Dramatically increased urbanization and industrialization  Exiles the Ayatollah Khomeini after he criticizes the Shah

Westernize or Bust!  Most Iranians did not want to abandon their rich heritage for Western Ways  Found inspiration in the sermons of Muslim leaders who denounced the material West  The Shah maintained control with harsh repression and brutality SAVAK

Allah Hu Akbar, Marg Bar Shah!  Demonstrations increased demanding the shah be deposed  Demonstrators demanded the return of the exiled Ayatollah Khomeini  The country was out of control

Exit the Shah!  Leaves the country January 16, 1979 goes first to France and then the U.S. for cancer treatment  Offers the premiership to Dr. Shahpur Bahktiar  The Ayatollah was invited back  Tens of thousands of demonstrators demanded the return of an Islamic state.  Dr. Bahktiar leaves

Islamic State Returns  Enemies of the Islamic Revolution are tried and executed  All political parties and organizations are banned  Independent and non-Islamic newspapers are closed.  Banks and Industries are Nationalized.

Iranian Revolution Escalates  US interests in the Persian Gulf are threatened. No access to Iranian Oil Cancellation of $7 billion of uncompleted arms contracts  Anti American sentiment runs high.

“Marg Bar Amrika!”(Great Satan America)  Sunday, November 4, 1979 the US Embassy in Tehran is stormed  500 student protestors take control of the Embassy  Ayatollah Khomeini applauded the actions of the students but officially did not support the attack  Sixty-six hostages taken

Oh Canada!  Six Americans seek refuge at the Canadian Embassy  Tense moments  Ottawa and Canadian Embassy prepare to evacuate  Evacuated via Operation Argo

Iran’s Hostage Demands  Return the Shah for trial  Return the Shah’s wealth to the people of Iran  Admission of guilt by the US  An apology and promise to stay out of Iran’s affairs.

President Carter’s Response  Refused to send the Shah back  Froze all Iranian Government financial assets  Forbade American companies from buying Iranian oil  13 hostages freed

U.S. Reaction to Hostage Crisis  Demonstrations at the Iranian Embassy in the US  Record sales of Iranian flags, which were then burned  Iranian Americans were harassed

Renewed Sense of Patriotism  CBS anchor Walter Cronkite encouraged America to support the hostages  Hostages became a national obsession  Penelope Laingen and the yellow ribbon campaign spread throughout the country

America’s Frustration Grows  On April 7, President Carter announces the severing of diplomatic relations with Iran  Complete economic embargo  Inventory of financial claims against Iran to be paid from Iranian assets in the U.S.  All Iranian diplomats are told to leave the country in 24 hours.

Operation Eagle Claw  April 24, 1980  8 helicoptors from the Nimitz were to rendezvous with 6 transports at Desert One  Then fly to Desert Two to drive to Tehran where the CIA had arranged for several Iranians to help storm the embassy

U.S. Aircraft Carrier Nimitz

Mission Aborted!  The first mission for the newly formed Delta Force  Pilots did not have experience, flying at night, flying low, and in sand storms.  The sandstorm disabled three helicoptors, one collided with a transport and both burst into flames killing eight Americans

President Carter Accepts Full Blame  Little hope for a second attempt because the hostages were dispersed to various locations  Carter’s popularity sinks  The Shah dies in July

1980 Presidential Campaign  The Reagan-Bush team realized that the hostage issue would determine the election  Americans needed to hear stirring phrases of national purpose, and believe in the future.  Wins by a landslide, Nov. 4  Started selling arms to the Contra rebels in Nicaragua, using the money to pay Iran ransom

The Hostages are Freed  Carter released $8 billion in frozen Iranian assets the morning of the inauguration  The hostages board planes  Reagan sent Carter, as a civilian, to greet the hostages

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad  Former hostages allege that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad among the hostage takers  Claim Ahmadinejad is the man whom they remember from captivity  Photograph taken during the crisis shows a man who resembles Ahmadinejad  Other hostages and the CIA express uncertainty regarding whether Ahmadinejad was actually involved

Where Are They Now?  The Shah’s son is attended school at USC  Trained as a pilot in the US Airforce  Acknowledges some of the evil that his father was accused of  Is gathering support to return to Iran