January 19: American Hostages Released

2016-01-19bOn 19 January 1981, Iran agreed to release 52 American hostages that were in captivity for fourteen months.

In November 1979, tensions between the United States and Iran were very high. Iran had recently overthrown their leader Muhammad Reza Shah Pahlavi. Shah was the leader of Iran since 1941; however, he started to anger Iranian citizens with harsh rule, resulting in protests where hundreds of Iranians were killed. He fled to America, were he was treated in an American hospital for cancer. This angered Iranians, causing them to protest and eventually break in to the American embassy in Tehran, Iran.

Iranian protesters took 66 hostages, 13 were released in 1979 while the rest remained in captivity for fourteen months. Protesters demanded the Shah to be returned to Iran, were he would go on trial and be executed. The United States refused to return the Shah stating he was only in America for medical treatment. While in captivity, hostages described being beaten, stolen from, blindfolded, and paraded through large crowds.

The crisis was not planned to last as long as it did. However, it carried on with all the popularity and full support from Iran’s supreme leader at the time, Ruhollah Khomeini. President Carter decided military action would be too risky and instead tried to build pressure on Iran through economic sanction. With no results and the American population getting frustrated, Carter attempted a rescue mission. Unfortunately, a rescue helicopter crashed before arrival, and eight servicemen were killed.

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–Alex Shuart

Meet the Author

2016-01-19Alex Shuart, I am a graduate of the 2014 Northville High School. After Schoolcraft College, I plan to transfer to a four-year university next fall. My interests include sports, working out, and traveling.

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