Iran hostage crisis
November 4, 1979 – January 20, 1981 · US embassy, Tehran
On 4 November 1979, Iranian students backing the Islamic Revolution seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and took 66 Americans hostage, demanding the United States hand over the exiled Shah for trial. Fifty-two hostages were held for 444 days, until 20 January 1981. The crisis ended with the Algiers Accords, and the hostages were released on the day Ronald Reagan was inaugurated president.
Key people
Ruhollah Khomeini
Iran and allies
Jimmy Carter
head of state/government · United States and allies
Warren Christopher
negotiator · United States and allies
Cyrus Vance
Secretary of State · United States and allies
Edmund Muskie
Secretary of State · United States and allies
Joe Clark
belligerent leader · United States and allies
Mehdi Bazargan
belligerent leader · Iran and allies
Mohammad Mousavi Khoeiniha
belligerent leader · Iran and allies
James B. Vaught
military commander · United States and allies
Flora MacDonald
belligerent leader · United States and allies
Participants
-
Iran
Iran and allies
-
United States
United States and allies
-
Canada
United States and allies
Battles 1
- Operation Eagle Claw April 24–25, 1980
Before and after
- Ended by
- Algiers Accords (1981) January 19, 1981
Related events
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
Iran hostage crisis
