1. Aim: Identify what causes the Iranian Hostage Crisis to take place

2. Religious & Secular Values Clash in Iran
Cold War confrontations continued to erupt in Middle East
Oil industry wealth fueled a growing clash between traditional Islamic values & modern Western materialism
Shown especially in Iran
Post WWII, Iran’s leader, Shah Pahlavi embraced Western governments
Iranian nationalists resented foreign alliances
1953, forced Shah to flee
Fearing Iran might turn to Soviets, US helped restore Shah to power 2

3. United States Supports Secular Rule
Shah westernized his country
End of 1950’s, Iran’s capital Tehran featured gleaming skyscrapers
Millions still lived in extreme poverty
Muslim leaders known as ayatollahs opposed Western influences
Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini led religious opposition & lived in exile
1978: Iranians rioted in every major city
Shah fled Iran in 1979
Khomeini returned to establish an Islamic state 3

4. Khomeini’s Anti-U.S. Policies
Hatred of the US was due to the US support for the Shah
1979: Islamic revolutionaries seized the US embassy in Tehran
Took more than 60 American hostage
Demanded the US force the Shah to face trial
Hostages remained prisoners for 444 days before being released in 1981
1980: War broke out between Iran & Iraq
US secretly gave aid to both sides
Because US didn’t want the balance of power in the region to change 4