The Story of the 1981 Hostage Release

This timing reinforced the perception of Reagan as entering office with strength, though Carter had laid the groundwork for the accords. Congress and the public demanded reforms in intelligence and foreign policy, including greater security for U.S. embassies worldwide. For the revolutionary government, the hostage crisis was seen as a victory over U.S. “imperialism.”

It demonstrated that would not bow to outside pressure. The episode strengthened the position of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, consolidating his control over the revolutionary state. Internally, the crisis deepened hostility toward moderates who had sought a better relationship with the West. It shifted firmly onto an anti-U.S., anti-Western course for decades to come.

September 14, 2025 | 2:01 am