Iran+Hostage+Crisis+-+12-13

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**Brief Summary of the Event**
Iran Hostage Crisis was a happening when a group of Iranian students attacked the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and took 53 Americans as hostages. Such actions were caused when the U.S., under President Jimmy Carter, took care of Shah, Iran’s former autocrat who has been expelled due to his pro-Western ideals, and treated his cancer. At first, as military action seemed too “risky”, he first attempted to build pressure on Iran through economic sanctions and froze its assets while Hamilton Jordan spent thousands of hours trying to work secret channels. As that ultimately failed, he carried out a military action for a rescue plant called “Desert One”. As the operation ultimately failed again, the Americans were devastated.The hostages were held for 444 days when Reagan was inaugurated as the next president. The formal agreement was called the Algiers Accords.

**Dates**
= Major Dates to know = - New Years Eve, 1977 : President Carter toasts to Shah calling him the "island of stability" amongst all the Middle Eastern countries - January 16th, 1979 : Shah flees to Egypt - November 4th, 1979 : The Iranians take over the U.S. Embassy - November 11th, 1979 : U.S. puts an embargo on oil against Iran - April 11th, 1980 : "Desert One" - January 21st, 1981 : Hostages released as soon as Reagan inaugurated
 * = Date of the event : November 1979 - January 1981 = **

**List of Major Characters of the Event**

 * **Jimmy Carter** : President of the United States from 1977 - 1981
 * **Iranian students** : Storm into the U.S. Embassy and starts the whole trouble
 * **Reza Shah Pahlavi** : The former Iranian King thrown over by the civilians because of his pro-Western ideologies and positive relationships with the U.S.
 * **Major countries** : U.S.A. and Iran
 * **Ayatollah Khomeini :** Iran's new leader that ultimately seeks negotiation with the U.S.

**Outcomes of the Event**

 * 1) President Carter’s efficiency as a government leader was put to question as all his plans ultimately failed to rescue the hostages.
 * 2) Eight American hostages killed during the process of the rescue plan “Desert Plan”.
 * 3) Algiers Accords.

Influence on Cold War
This is a great exemplar of the political conflicts that existed during the years of Cold War. The Iran Hostage Crisis intensified the tension of the Cold War because it was a direct act of violence when M.A.D. (mutually assured destruction) was always on alert. This conflict greatly enhanced the American hate towards communists and the Middle Eastern nations, who were majorly supported by the communist governments as well. While the USSR and the U.S. have been fighting indirectly in other nations or regions, the taking over of the American Embassy imposed a straight challenge to the greatest democratic power. Nonetheless, Iran could not stand against the power of the great nation and in the end sought to end in a negotiation. It also affected how the Cold War is to be managed in the future for there is a great change in the leadership with the "Republican landslide" Reagan taking position in the White House.