The Iranian Hostage Crisis: A Turning Point in US-Iran Relations

In 1979, Islamic militants seized the US Embassy in Tehran, holding 52 hostages for 444 days. The crisis began after the Shah of Iran was admitted to the US for cancer treatment, leading to demands from Iran for his return and an apology for the 1953 coup. President Carter refused, freezing Iranian assets and attempting a failed rescue mission, Operation Eagle Claw. The hostages were released in 1981 after negotiations, marking a significant diplomatic event that shaped US-Iran relations and influenced American foreign policy.

What impact did the hostage crisis have on American politics?

What was the outcome of the negotiations that led to the release of the hostages?

How did the Iranian hostage crisis affect U.S.-Iran relations in the long term?