On November 4, 1979, the U.S. Embassy in Tehran was overrun by and angry mob of Islamic revolutionaries, taking more than 60 Americans hostage.
When the raid began, it was unclear who they represented and what they hoped to achieve from this act of terrorism. A similar instance had occurred nine months prior to this, when the American ambassador had been held hostage for a few hours before Khomeini ordered his release. This time however, Khomeini took this a chance to secure his power and gave a statement supporting this attack on America’s “den of spies.” The student vowed not the release their American hostages until the Shah returned to Iran to go through a trial and return the money they claimed he had stolen from his people.
When the raid began, it was unclear who they represented and what they hoped to achieve from this act of terrorism. A similar instance had occurred nine months prior to this, when the American ambassador had been held hostage for a few hours before Khomeini ordered his release. This time however, Khomeini took this a chance to secure his power and gave a statement supporting this attack on America’s “den of spies.” The student vowed not the release their American hostages until the Shah returned to Iran to go through a trial and return the money they claimed he had stolen from his people.
On November 11, President Carter embargoes Iranian oil. Six days later, Khomeini released the female, African American, and non-U.S. citizen hostages because women and minorities were already suffering from “the oppression of American society.” Fifty-three Americans including two women and one African American were kept as hostages. Military action was not in the best interest of America during this time, so Carter decided to pressure Iran through economic sanctions. As the year continued however, negotiations were not as successful as anticipated and the American people became frustrated with the lack of results from their President; especially after the very public failure of Desert One.