Iranian Hostage Crisis (nov 4, 1979 – jan 20, 1981)

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The Iranian hostage crisis was a foreign policy standoff between the United States and Iran that lasted from 1979 to 1981. The crisis began when a group of Iranian students seized the U.S. embassy in Tehran, capturing 52 American hostages. The students demanded that the United States return the overthrown Shah of Iran, who had fled to the U.S. for medical treatment after being forcefully removed from office during the Iranian Revolution.

The crisis lasted for 444 days, during which time the hostages were held captive and tortured heavily, both physiologically and phyisically. The United States attempted to negotiate for their release, but the Iranian government refused to cooperate.

The crisis ended on January 20, 1981, when the hostages were released after 444 days in captivity. The hostage crisis strained U.S.-Iranian relations for decades and had a significant impact on American domestic politics, including the election of Ronald Reagan as President.

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