Iran's Century Struggle - Hostages In Tehran

Understanding the lead-up really helps frame the crisis in its full historical weight. Here’s a breakdown of the key events that set the stage for the 1979 U.S. embassy hostage crisis in Iran:

1. U.S. support for the Shah: For decades, the U.S. had backed Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran, especially after helping reinstate him during the 1953 CIA-backed coup that ousted Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh. This alliance bred deep resentment among many Iranians, who saw the Shah as a Western puppet.

   
   

2. The Iranian Revolution (1978–1979): Mounting opposition to the Shah’s authoritarian rule, fueled by economic struggles and political repression, culminated in a mass uprising. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, a radical cleric exiled by the Shah, returned to Iran in February 1979 and quickly became the face of the revolution, establishing an Islamic Republic.

   
   

3. Anti-American sentiment: The revolution was steeped in anti-Western rhetoric. The U.S. embassy in Tehran had already been briefly occupied in February 1979 by armed guerrillas, a sign of the growing hostility.

   
   

4. The Shah’s admission to the U.S.: In October 1979, the Carter administration allowed the ailing Shah to enter the U.S. for cancer treatment. This enraged Iranian revolutionaries, who feared a repeat of the 1953 coup and demanded his extradition to stand trial.

   
   

5. Embassy takeover (November 4, 1979): In response, a group calling themselves the Muslim Student Followers of the Imam's Line stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran and took 66 Americans hostage. They demanded the Shah’s return and an apology for U.S. interference in Iranian affairs.

These events didn’t just spark a 444-day hostage crisis—they reshaped U.S.–Iran relations for decades and had ripple effects across global diplomacy and domestic politics in both countries.