Iran hostage crisis

1979-11-04 - 1981-01-20

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.