The crisis started when a group of Iranian students and militants, angered by the admission of the deposed Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, into the United States for cancer treatment, seized the U.S. embassy in Tehran and took 66 American diplomats and citizens hostage. The students demanded that the Shah, who was living in exile in the United States, be extradited to Iran to stand trial for human rights abuses allegedly committed during his rule.
The Carter administration responded by imposing economic sanctions on Iran and freezing Iranian assets in the United States. The United States also attempted to negotiate the release of the hostages through diplomatic channels. However, these efforts proved unsuccessful, and the crisis dragged on.
The hostage crisis had a significant impact on American public opinion. Polls showed that a majority of Americans disapproved of the Carter administration's handling of the crisis. The crisis also led to increased skepticism about the ability of the United States to influence events in the Middle East.
In an attempt to resolve the crisis, the Carter administration launched a military rescue operation called Operation Eagle Claw. The operation was a failure and resulted in the death of eight American servicemen. The failure of Operation Eagle Claw further eroded public support for the Carter administration and ultimately contributed to his defeat in the 1980 presidential election.
The Iran hostage crisis was a significant turning point in American foreign policy. It marked the end of an era of détente with Iran and the beginning of a new era of confrontation between the United States and Iran. The crisis also had a lasting impact on American public opinion, making Americans more skeptical about the ability of the United States to influence events in the Middle East.