The Story of the 1981 Hostage Release

Algerian diplomats begin shuttling between Washington and Tehran as mediators. The Algiers Accords are signed, finalizing terms for the hostages’ release. Minutes after Ronald Reagan is sworn in as president, 52 hostages are freed, ending 444 days of captivity. Hostages were blindfolded and paraded before cameras, a deliberate attempt to humiliate the U.S.

Some hostages were kept in solitary confinement for weeks or months at a time. Others were grouped together and secretly communicated with coded knocks on walls. Faith, prayer, and camaraderie became survival tools. Several hostages later said that routines—like exercising, memorizing scripture, or teaching each other languages—kept them sane.

September 14, 2025 | 2:01 am