IRAN HOSTAGE RESCUE MISSION

Iran Hostage Rescue Mission



Iran Hostage Rescue Mission

Background

After exhausting all diplomatic channels to achieve the release of 53 Americans held hostage in Iran for over six months, President Carter undertook a dramatic military rescue attempt in April 1980. Carter's action was not only completely contrary to his explicit commitment to human rights and to seeking nonmilitary solutions to foreign policy crises in world politics, but it was a highly risky prospect from a military standpoint as well. In early 1979, the US lost one of its strongest allies in the Middle East as Iran fell into civil war and its pro-America dictator Reza Shah Pahlevi (the Shah or king of Iran) ousted. Replacing this administration was a conservative clerical body headed by the exiled Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, a respected Muslim religious figure. What he and his conservative followers soon established was an Islamic Republic based on strict religious Sharia law. More importantly, they reversed the Westernization efforts of the Shah. What followed were months of tension as the US waited to see where it now stood with this new Iran. During this time, however, the ailing Shah became increasingly sick, affected by cancer only treatable in the US. This left the US in a tough position of having to choose to help their former ally, surely igniting Iranian resentment, or closer relations with this new regime at the expense of a friend. Taking the risk, in early November the Shah was granted entrance and Iran erupted.

Research Question

Did the US make the rational decision upon Iran's hostage incident?

Body: Discussion and Analysis

On 4 November 1979, hundreds of students stormed the US embassy in Tehran, accused by the Ayatollah of being a “den of spies.” Sixty-six Americans were taken hostage, as the Iranians demanded the return of the Shah ...