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Iran Hostage Crisis

Iran Hostage Crisis. President ahmadinejad ???. Background. By the 1950s Iran saw itself in a power struggle US supported Reza Shah (Shah = name for leader of Iran) Mohammed Mossadeq wins in a democratic election. Background (Cont.).

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Iran Hostage Crisis

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  1. Iran Hostage Crisis

  2. President ahmadinejad???

  3. Background • By the 1950s Iran saw itself in a power struggle • US supported Reza Shah (Shah = name for leader of Iran) • Mohammed Mossadeq wins in a democratic election

  4. Background (Cont.) • US helps the Shah launch a coup against Mossadeq to restore the Shah to power • Key Point…US replaces the democratically elected Mossadeq and puts a dictatorship under the rule of the Shah in power • US continues support of Shah afterward and helps train secret police (SAVAK)

  5. Iranian Revolution • Brutal tactics (secret police) to keep power angered Iranian people and… • Economic downturn led to… • In 1979, revolution in Iran led to overthrow of the Shah (exiled)

  6. Ayatollah Khomeini • Islamic Fundamentalist leader • Preached a strong Anti-American message (“Great Satan”) • Returned to Iran after being in exile for 14 years in France after Shah took power

  7. Triggering Point • American Government allowed the Shah to enter the country for cancer treatment • November 4, 1979 an angry mob led by students attacked American Embassy in Tehran and captured 52 American employees

  8. Carter’s Response • Froze Iranian assets in the U.S. banks and placed an embargo on Iranian oil • Negotiated release of hostages • Ordered a rescue attempt in April 1980

  9. Operation Eagle Claw • Mission to rescue American hostages • Eight Americans died when a U.S. plane and helicopter collided because of a sand storm • Failure embarrassed President Jimmy Carter and severely hurt chances of being re-elected

  10. Results • After 444 days, hostages were released • This occurred the same day as Ronald Reagan became President on January 20, 1981 • Why??? • Hostages wouldn’t be released until Carter was gone

  11. Carter’s other Foreign Policies • Ease dependence on foreign oil • Conservation • Development of alternative energy (solar, wind) • Overshadowed by Three-Mile Island mishap (Pennsylvania)

  12. Three-Mile Island

  13. Panama Canal treaties • Panama would take control over the canal by the end of 1999 • Many Americans disagreed with decision – viewed as a decline in American power

  14. Camp David Accords – Sadat, Carter, Begin

  15. Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, 1979 • US secretively funds Mujahideen (group in Afghanistan fighting against USSR) • Why secretively? • Didn’t want to spark a war with USSR • Soviet attacks bog down; forced to pull out • Power vacuum created in Afghanistan; Taliban takes control • Weapons provided to Afghanistan later used against US in War on Terror

  16. Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

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