Agreement Reached for Hostage Release
January 19th, 1981
January 19th, 1981
How Long Ago?
44 years, 1 month, 24 days ago
Location
Tehran, Iran
Category
Politics & Government
People
- Jimmy Carter
- Mohammad Khatami
- Algerian President Chadli Bendjedid
Links & References
Tags
Agreement Reached for Hostage Release
United States and Iranian officials signed an agreement to release 52 American hostages after 14 months of captivity in Tehran. The negotiations involved mediators and culminated in a complex deal that involved economic and political concessions from both sides. The hostages were taken on November 4, 1979, during the Iranian Revolution, and their release was eagerly anticipated by the U.S. public.
52 American hostages freed after 14 months.
Deal involved $8 billion in Iranian assets.
Negotiations mediated by Algeria.
Marked a shift in U.S.-Iran relations.
What Happened?
The Iran hostage crisis began when Iranian students stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran on November 4, 1979, taking 52 American diplomats and citizens hostage. This was in response to the U.S. granting asylum to the Iranian Shah, who had been deposed during the Iranian Revolution. Various attempts at negotiation and rescue were made over the ensuing months, but these were largely unsuccessful, leading to increasing tensions between the two nations. After 14 months of negotiations mediated by Algeria, an agreement was reached that would secure the release of the hostages. The agreement involved $8 billion in frozen Iranian assets and commitments from the U.S. to not intervene in Iranian internal affairs.
Why Does it Matter?
The release of the hostages marked a significant turning point in U.S.-Iran relations, leading to decades of diplomatic estrangement. The crisis had profound effects on American politics, particularly in the defeat of President Jimmy Carter in the 1980 presidential election. The event reshaped U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East and influenced American perceptions and actions toward Iran for generations. The hostages' safe return was seen as a relief, but the diplomatic consequences lingered long after.
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