Iran Hostage Crisis Ended 40 Years Ago
It’s been 40 years since 52 American hostages were held for 444 days after the U.S. Embassy in Tehran was seized by revolutionary Iranian students.
The impetus for the takeover was the exiled Shah of Iran’s entry into the U.S. The hostage crisis brought Ayatollah Khomeini into power, and would eventually cost U.S. President Jimmy Carter his reelection bid in the 1980 Presidential Election.
The majority of hostages were released the day Ronald Reagan was sworn in as president.