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Tension Before the Hostage Crisis
The Iran hostage crisis had its origins in a series of events that took place nearly a half-century before it began. The source of tension between Iran and the U.S. stemmed from an increasingly intense conflict over oil. -
Nationalization
However, in 1951 Iran’s newly elected prime minister, a European-educated nationalist named Muhammad Mossadegh, announced a plan to nationalize the country’s oil industry. -
Oct. 1979
President Carter let Irans deposed Shah come to America for cancer treatment. -
Nov. 4, 1979
On November 4, 1979, a group of Iranian students stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking more than 60 American hostages. -
The 1980 Election
On Election Day, one year and two days after the hostage crisis began, Reagan defeated Carter in a landslide. -
Summer of 1980
By midsummer 1980, 52 hostages remained in the embassy compound. The hostages were never seriously injured, they were subjected to a rich variety of demeaning and terrifying treatment. -
Jan. 21, 1981
The students set their hostages free on January 21, 1981, 444 days after the crisis began and just hours after President Ronald Reagan delivered his inaugural address.