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The Inside Story of the 1979 Embassy Capture

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Takeover in Tehran: The Inside Story of the 1979 U.S. Embassy Capture

by Massoumeh Ebtekar

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1940 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
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Print length	:	244 pages

On November 4, 1979, a group of Iranian students stormed the United States embassy in Tehran, taking 52 American hostages. The hostages were held for 444 days, and their capture marked a turning point in U.S.-Iran relations.

The embassy capture was the culmination of months of anti-American sentiment in Iran. The Iranian Revolution had overthrown the Shah of Iran in January 1979, and the new Iranian government was hostile to the United States. The United States had supported the Shah, and Iranians resented the United States' role in their country.

In the months leading up to the embassy capture, Iranian students had been demonstrating outside the embassy, demanding that the United States return the Shah to Iran. The students also accused the United States of interfering in Iranian affairs.

On November 4, 1979, a group of Iranian students stormed the embassy. The students were armed with guns and knives, and they quickly overwhelmed the embassy's security guards. The students took 52 American hostages, including diplomats, military personnel, and civilians.

The embassy capture was a major embarrassment for the United States. President Jimmy Carter ordered the military to rescue the hostages, but the rescue attempt failed. The hostages were held for 444 days, and their capture became a major issue in the 1980 presidential election.

The embassy capture had a profound impact on U.S.-Iran relations. The two countries broke off diplomatic relations, and the United States imposed economic sanctions on Iran. The embassy capture also led to the creation of the hostage crisis task force, which was tasked with negotiating the release of the hostages.

The hostages were finally released on January 20, 1981, the day Ronald Reagan was inaugurated as president. The release of the hostages was a major victory for Reagan, and it helped to improve U.S.-Iran relations.

## The Hostages

The 52 American hostages were held in a variety of locations in Tehran. They were often held in solitary confinement, and they were subjected to physical and psychological abuse. The hostages were also denied access to medical care and other basic necessities.

The hostages endured their captivity with courage and dignity. They supported each other, and they refused to give up hope. The hostages' strength and resilience inspired people around the world.

## The Negotiators

The United States government negotiated with the Iranian government for the release of the hostages. The negotiations were complex and difficult, and they often reached a standstill. The United States was determined to get the hostages back, but it was also unwilling to make any concessions that would legitimize the Iranian government.

The negotiations were finally successful in January 1981. The United States agreed to release $8 billion in frozen Iranian assets, and Iran agreed to release the hostages.

## The Legacy of the Embassy Capture

The 1979 embassy capture was a major event in U.S.-Iran relations. The capture of the hostages and their subsequent captivity had a profound impact on both countries. The embassy capture also led to the creation of the hostage crisis task force, which has since been used to negotiate the release of other hostages.

The legacy of the embassy capture is still felt today. The United States and Iran continue to have a strained relationship, and the embassy capture remains a source of tension between the two countries.

Takeover in Tehran: The Inside Story of the 1979 U.S. Embassy Capture

by Massoumeh Ebtekar

4.3 out of 5