Iran Hostage Crisis

The Iran Hostage Crisis

Winston Dickson

Professor Fischer

Pol300

11/6/11

Abstract

In 1979, President Jimmy Carter faced a diplomatic crisis known as the Iran Hostage Crisis. President Carter was faced with an extremely difficult decision on how to best communicate with the terrorists in order to free the hostages and at the same time keeping them safe. Some historians say that the Iran Hostage Crisis was a factor that led to President Carter losing the election to President Ronald Reagan. This paper will cover the following topics: Summarize a situation that required U.S. diplomatic efforts during the president’s time in office. Explicate the diplomatic doctrine the president followed, with reference to specific actions or events that occurred. Describe the effects of these diplomatic efforts for the U.S. and other countries. Assess, in conclusion, the advantages and disadvantages of the particular doctrine that was followed.

Summarize a situation that required U.S. diplomatic efforts during the president’s time in office.

On November 4, 1979 Jimmy Carter and the United States were faced with a diplomatic crisis known as the Iran Hostage Crisis. The Iran Hostage Crisis occurred during the last 444 days of Jimmy Carter’s presidency. The hostages were freed minutes after Ronald Regan took office ending Jimmy Carter’s presidency. Some historians believe that he crisis lead to Carter’s defeat in the election against Ronald Reagan.

The Hostage Crisis began with young militant Islamic revolutionaries raided the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and took over 60 Americans hostage. Initially it was unclear what motivation the students had for taking the hostages. However, Jimmy Carter’s relationship with the Shah of Iran is ultimately what leads to the crisis. Jimmy Carter had allowed the Shah, who was suffering from cancer, into the United States for medical treatment. Carter and his administration were hesitant to allow the Shah entry in the U.S. out of fear of reprisal against Americans currently in Iran. Being the Humanitarian that Jimmy Carter is he decided to allow the Shah into the U.S. for medical treatment for cancer.

The student’s motivation for the crisis was to have the Shah returned to Iran to stand trial, and they wanted the U.S. to return billions of dollars that were claimed to have been stolen from the Iranian people. The hostages were only going to be held for a short time but as some believe they were held longer based on Carter humanitarian reaction to the crisis. Also, the hostages were held longer because the