Iran Hostage Crisis by Amanda Alvarez
The Iran Hostage Crisis was a diplomatic crisis with Iran and the United States. Fifty-two Americans were held hostage for 444 days (November 4, 1979 to January
20, 1981). A group of Islamist students and militants supporting the Iranian Revolution took over the American Embassy in Tehran. In Iran, the hostage taking was widely seen as a blow against the United States and its influence in Iran, its perceived attempts to undermine the Iranian Revolution, and its longstanding support of the recently overthrown Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi of Iran. The United States sent the military to try and set the hostages free but on April 24,1980 the Operation Eagle Claw failed. On July 27, 1980, the former Shah died; then, in September, Iraq invaded Iran. These two events led the Iranian government to enter negotiations with the U.S., with Algeria acting as a mediator.
President Carter's response:
Carter approved a hostage rescue mission by an elite paramilitary unit,
the American commandos led by Colonel Charles Beckwith. It was a dismal failure. Several military helicopters broke down in the desert, and eight commandos died when two aircraft collided during the hasty retreat. The abortive mission seemed to many Americans a symbol of U.S. military weakness in the post-Vietnam era. Carter called Iran to see if he could bribe them with money and let the hostages free. Many of his attempts were a fail, until 1981 when Shah died and the hostages were set free. Many Americans saw this as a success and re-elected Carter as President.
Carter approved a hostage rescue mission by an elite paramilitary unit,
the American commandos led by Colonel Charles Beckwith. It was a dismal failure. Several military helicopters broke down in the desert, and eight commandos died when two aircraft collided during the hasty retreat. The abortive mission seemed to many Americans a symbol of U.S. military weakness in the post-Vietnam era. Carter called Iran to see if he could bribe them with money and let the hostages free. Many of his attempts were a fail, until 1981 when Shah died and the hostages were set free. Many Americans saw this as a success and re-elected Carter as President.