Iran hostage crisis

The Iran Hostage Crisis began in November 1979 when Iranian militants seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking 52 American diplomats and citizens hostage. This event was fueled by anger over U.S. support for the ousted Iranian Shah and broader anti-American sentiment. Hostages were held for 444 days, leading to a significant diplomatic crisis that strained U.S.-Iran relations. The ordeal highlighted issues of international diplomacy, security, and human rights, and ended just hours after Ronald Reagan was inaugurated as President on January 20, 1981, marking a pivotal moment in U.S. foreign policy.