The Causes And Effects Of The Iran Hostage Crisis

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The Iran Hostage Crisis changed the political connections between the United States and Iran for several years to come. The Iran Hostage Crisis became a symbol of America 's global power and influence On November 4, 1979, Iranian students stormed the US embassy in Tehran, Iran, and took 52 Americans Hostage. The students agreed that the hostages would not be released until the Shah returned to “Iran to stand trial for the crimes committed against the Iranian people.” (Bechtel). Despite the Shah’s treatment of the Iranian people, the President Carted allowed the Shah into the United States to receive medical treatment. Although President Carter made attempts to negotiate the hostages released, he failed several times. Because of his failures In 1950, the Shah of Iran fled when Mossadegh was elected Prime Minister. After this election, Mossadegh nationalized Iran 's oil industry, reducing the European influence throughout the nation over the oil commodity. This sparked great fear throughout the United States; they feared the communists would turn the Iran democracy against them. After three years in exile, in 1953 the Shah was brought back to power, thus resulting in the United States and Iran become close allies once again. The United States support of the Shah and his treatment towards the Iranian people angered the people of Iran. “Between 1953 and the early 1970s the U.S. supported the Shah’s ambitious plans for economic development and regional leadership President Carter was hoping that if he put an embargo on oil, it would cripple the Iranian economic standings, and the Americans would be released. This was not the case. Since this was a failure, President Carter designed Operation Eagle Claw, a mission designed to rescue the American hostages. “After five months of planning and preparation, the Eagle Claw participants were deployed for mission execution. Just after seven p.m. on the 24th of April, 1980” (“Operation”). The mission called for six helicopters to land in Iran two hundred miles from Tehran. “Of the six helicopters that landed, one developed operating difficulties...Therefore, on the recommendation of Delta Force commander Beckwith and my military advisers, I canceled the mission” (Carter 421). As the helicopters withdrew from Iran, “one of the helicopters accidentally collided with a C-130 aircraft, which was preparing to take off, resulting in the death of eight personnel and the injury of several others” (Carter 412). Figure two is a photograph of the incident that occurred during Operation Eagle

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