The United States, since the early 1950s, had been providing political and military support to the government of the shah of Iran in order to prevent Soviet expansion in the Middle East. The shah, however, was met with severe opposition from much of his people, as many disapproved of his efforts to westernize and modernize Iran. He was met with so much opposition, that he fled the country in 1979, leaving Iran in the hands of Avatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who had almost polar opposite ideals as the shah, and was met with less resistance.
In October 1979, the dethroned shah traveled to New York in order to be treated for Lymphoma. As a result, a group of infuriated Iranian students , dissidents of the shah, rushed the American embassy in Tehran, capturing 53 American diplomats and other American personnel. The students demanded that the shah be released back to Iran along with The United States' vow to end American interference in Iran's affairs. Carter worked diligently and persistently to free the hostages, yet his efforts deemed ineffective when the hostages were released within hours of Ronald Reagan's presidential inaugural speech. _
In October 1979, the dethroned shah traveled to New York in order to be treated for Lymphoma. As a result, a group of infuriated Iranian students , dissidents of the shah, rushed the American embassy in Tehran, capturing 53 American diplomats and other American personnel. The students demanded that the shah be released back to Iran along with The United States' vow to end American interference in Iran's affairs. Carter worked diligently and persistently to free the hostages, yet his efforts deemed ineffective when the hostages were released within hours of Ronald Reagan's presidential inaugural speech. _