America Held Hostage: The Iran Crisis - ABC News

[@ingridsitems]

As soon as the Shah was booted out, the US Embassy should have been shut down, and all Americans evacuated.

[@martinjenkins5471]

Moron Carter should have ceased diplomatic relations when the Shah left.

[@tlome8033]

And yet, here we are.

[@docadams7099]

I remember saying, in Feb. 1979, that we better get our people out of Iran when Khomaniac took over.

[@the4220]

When the embassy staff noticed the tide going out, just like a spooling tsunami, they should have didid it out of there instead of staying on.

[@anac4950]

Jimmy carter funded khomeini and khomeini promised him that American interests would be protected lmao Carter f****ed around and found out

[@ltr6541]

jeeze Peter Thomas was EVERYWHERE narrating in the 70s and 80s. Iconic

[@SteVibiana]

I love how Koppel just comes right out on Day One and says the main concern of Washington was oil, even before hastily muttering that they wanted the hostages to be safe. Don't hold back, baby, just blurt it out.

[@hankigoe829]

So oil could affect the behavior of politicians when their own citizens' lives are at stake. Wait, what?

[@the4220]

Why blame oil all the time? They obviously needed money.

[@mikestevenson576]

Oil was no small thing in those days. The US had rationing in 1979.

[@jamesstewart8377]

Oil is actually crucial to a vital Western economy so it’s not ridiculous to keep that in mind when dealing with that region of the world.

[@leemackie8434]

The French had a lot to answer for as they gave him asylum and didn’t step in to help at anytime and strange that the Ayatollah hated the Western Countries so much but was happy to stay in France and take the help they gave him to put him in power.🤔

[@Joobajuba]

Is call double standard politics. France and America etc are still keeping thieves with stolen goods.

[@leemackie8434]

@@Joobajuba they gave him his plate form and created his image and then backing came for him. So if they hadn’t talked about him then he wouldn’t have gone on to destroy a wonderful country

[@jamesbedugraham8056]

France is a strange nation accepting the Ayatollah but leading Iran into Anarchy and Islamic Fundamentalism. Khomeini was a strange leader.

[@Charlesputnam-bn9zy]

@@jamesbedugraham8056 the exiled Khomeyni stayed 1st in Turkey in late 1964, then 1 year later moved to Iraq (!!!) from where he was Saddam-Hussein-expelled in 1978. It was then that he moved to France. Remember that from 1973 to '75, the Western press from Europe to America had the Shah with : "The Man Who Threatens The West" as their cover stories. & that, well before the Yom Kippur War leading to the Arab oil blackmail. Remember also the Iranian oil crisis of 1952-53, result of the underground war between the US(Standard Oil) & UK(BP) oil pashas. The Shah was forced into exile to Greece by ... maneuvering. & then reinstated by ... maneuvering with "comprende ?" full his ears. We must remember that of all oil-producing countries, The Shah's Iran was the sole one to defend its oil manu militari. Therefore, the fall of the Shah was Western-plotted along the principle : "Keep your friends close & your enemies closer, "so that the latter can stab the former in the back."

[@terriegym]

why are you blaming the french when it was the US removing the ELECTED government and inserting their puppet government in 1951, because of oil greed (as usual) that started all this mess.

[@glennlittle1580]

And 20 minutes before Ronald Reagan was Sworn In the hostages were released

[@Charlesputnam-bn9zy]

that's only the 1st best part the 2nd best part was the 8-years long Iran-Iraq war the 3rd best part was Sadegh Ghobtzadeh executed by his adoptive dad of a Khomeini

[@MichaelSeaBelA]

Jimmy Carter passed away today. Rest In Peace along with Rosalynn, Jimmy!🙏🏻

[@IPC-D_Media_Unit]

Look at Sadat quivering with anger and fear at 15:26. He knew he was next, and it was barely a year until he was assasinated.

[@the4220]

Don't mess with the man with the Bible in his hands...

[@user-gigi-gigi]

I remember I was 14 and I wrote a poem about this to the hostages.

[@sartainja]

Great recap of the crisis through ABC News reports.

[@moviebuff7077]

👍

[@anticommunist5368]

Real News no half naked women newscasters no propaganda

[@Kevinduddo]

What a surprise. The Butcher of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam Henry Kissinger had his hands all over the diplomats being taken hostage by lobbying Carter to admit the Shah while the Embassy staff were still in Iran in danger

[@wjroberts913]

Operation EAGLE CLAW documentary had interview clip of one of Carter's close advisors who recounted CARTER HIMSELF saying, "When we accept the Shah which one of you geniuses has an answer for when they invade our embassy and take our people hostage?" He knew what he was doing, its consequences, whether or not Kissinger had his ear.

[@walterfielding9079]

In defense of Kissinger, letting the shah out to dry is a horrible image to portray. In tough situations friends of the United States are left to die. That's not something the US would really like to portray and it certainly is something the Soviets could've used against the US. Second, the Communist were using Cambodia as a staging ground for operations that attacked and killed American troops. Invading was necessary to protect American and South Vietnamese troops and military positions.

[@murozvi5898]

​@@walterfielding9079🚮

[@godstenrules]

Anybody watching this in 2024 during the Gaza hostage crisis?

[@mohammadrajabi3723]

Me, after the charter's death.😊

[@TomSanderson100]

Can you post the documentary America Held Hostage The Secret Negotiations? Thanks

[@wynnkidsnannylorivance4111]

Until I became an adult and eventually, a DC lobbyist, I did NOT understand why the Iranians were referred to as "students". I didn't think they were holding classes at the Embassy. The administration just didn't want them referred to as the "T" word.

[@PassivePortfolios]

My dad who was a mechanic serviced the cars of two Iranians "students". One spread Khomeini propaganda leaflets while the other was pro-Shah. They could not be at the shop at the same time.

[@wynnkidsnannylorivance4111]

@PassivePortfolios wow

[@sartainja]

The glass frames wore from 1979 to 1981 were horrible.

[@paulinegarcia888]

They're horrible still.

[@daltonagronomo1652]

The best part of this video is about at 19 minutes and 20 seconds, when there's a profile of Khomeini's mind. I live in Brazil.

[@drooky123]

in the end Iran capitulated & changed their tune when they realized they weren't ever going to get their multi billions in frozen financial assets back. sooner or later, everyone bows to the mighty $ dollar $

[@walterfielding9079]

And Ronald Reagan probably would not have hesitated to bomb Tehran.

[@Scorch428]

Just dont tell them we can use our Fed to print more and devalue what we just gave them :P

[@mehdipireh8159]

America didn't support Shah , let him down.

[@cary3517]

I think one of the hostages got a visit from his mother

[@crimsonclover5541]

How kind!

[@gdmofo]

I enlisted in the US Army in 1979 it was amazing when Reagan got elected the Iranians didn't screw around things that make you go hmmm

[@chriscarrete5303]

Wow, that must have been intense.

[@mehraeinarmanfard8867]

It was a theater that played khomeini .

[@donatofamily2084]

" a theater of hate" compared to what and why?

[@__patriot_1776]

@@donatofamily2084 I think he meant "Cinema Rex", that's where all started to erupt.

[@judedesilva8366]

ABC World News Tonight with Frank Reynolds on Day 58 New Year's Eve, December 31, 1979; 29:55

[@jamesdrynan]

Looking at Affleck's " Argo, " you'd think the Americans were the only country involved in freeing the hostages. The film gave short shrift to Canada's part in the affair. America loves its heroes, even when the true tale is told.

[@Charlesputnam-bn9zy]

ben affake was concerned above all with ben affake. On the news, we could see how much the ayatollahs' regime was mad with fury against Canada, when the regime's f.m. Sadegh Ghobtzadeh spewed his venomous rage, swearing to "make Canada pay"

[@josephanderson7237]

Was one of the Iranian students to become the current Iranian President?

[@kevinbrown4073]

Certainly a former Iranian president

[@mikealvord55]

ABC coverage helped elect Reagan. You wonder if they knew it they would have covered it as much

[@mynamedoesntmatter8652]

Ron was elected because the dying Shah was taken in by the US after absolutely no other country would. His politics were directly opposite that of Jimmy Carter’s.

[@wokeeye6441]

The only place reagan was supposed to be elected to was the electric chair.

[@arthuridis]

@@wokeeye6441 Actually...You're more of a deserving candidate.

[@chewyismycopilot788]

Middle East could use another Sadat

[@bryanw652]

I like this theme music for abc news

[@trueKENTUCKY]

Is this new?

[@judedesilva8366]

ABC World News Tonight with Frank Reynolds on November 6, 1979; 7:08

[@judedesilva8366]

ABC World News Tonight with Frank Reynolds on November 13, 1979, 17:58

[@Hever73]

Why is it you do not say WHY of the hostages?????

[@walterfielding9079]

Why the hostages were held? ABC said so multiple times. Carter accepted the Shah into the US for cancer treatment and the Iranian Revolutionaries wanted the Shah's head. So they took people hostage hoping Carter would give them the Shah so they could justify their radical Islamic Revolution.

[@MarcusPearl]

I love how this intro just begins as dismissing the reasons why the Islamic Government in Iran rose to power in the first place

[@Scorch428]

yea i noticed it left out why these hostages were taken in the first place.

[@judedesilva8366]

ABC World News Tonight Sunday with Sam Donaldson on November 4, 1979; 1:39

[@bobacrey1068]

When watching this you often think to yourself what other presidents would have done had it happened during their term of office

[@mesocorny4366]

Posting this 40 years to the month it began, I was around then but much too young to know what was going on, what the Iranians did wsnt self-defense, it was aggressive, excuses made for them r pathetic

[@martinjenkins5471]

They were animals. You couldn't give the Shah back, they would have ripped his body apart. Civisiled people can't do that.

[@the4220]

Passive/aggressive sucker bait? 🤔

[@maryhoag1723]

Of course its OIL , finger pointing same crap just a different era.

[@tamistone2632]

What about the hostages of 2023

[@doubletree1005]

I thought the film Argo got the American hostage back they never said anything about 8 million dollars in assets. So wat is the real truth we paid money or the CIA in Argo got them back

[@GFI888]

Argo was about a handful of Americans who were hidden by Canada's ambassador who ultimately succeeded with the secret mission to get them out. They were not in the US embassy with the 52 others.

[@ebramful]

Argo is just a movie and grossly inaccurate.

[@the4220]

Carter returned their assets before he left office. Poverty can do strange things to people. God bless Algeria.🇩🇿

[@Scorch428]

Argo got the CIAs spies out :P

[@Rocky-qy4rr]

I'm a member of the USMC and we had to do it we had to do at least they came home mission America

[@alexanderdahoola8188]

How and why did this hostage crisis last literally over a YEAR? When you look at modern day examples of let's say famous hostage crisis in Russia of the last 25 years, including the "Budennovsk" (also spelled "Budyonnovsk" and pronounced "Boo-dyO-novsk) hostage crisis in June 1995, its January 1996 counterpart half a year later "Kizlyar-Pervomayskoe", the Moscow theatre siege of the musical "Nord Ost" in 2002, not to speak of the horrendous Beslan school siege in 2004, and possibly others in the world, most of them, whilst also having a high rate of civilian casualties, lasted at most a few DAYS but this one went on for over a year and at no point between that time did the forces decide to just storm it or, like in the 1996-1997 Peru hostage crisis that lasted over 4 months, say, storm it in a few months, whilst finding the right moment etc, and do so in a way that may prevent too many casualties?

[@IPC-D_Media_Unit]

Probably the whole "happening within the boundaries of another state thousands of km away" business?

[@harryricochet8134]

Because at that time the US Army had insufficient Special Operations forces with hostage rescue capabilities to safely rescue such a large number of hostages held within a heavily urbanised environment after being massively drawn down following the Viet Nam War. Delta Force had only just been created shortly before this happened and the mission that was eventually launched was itself cobbled together with what assets were available rather than what would have been ideally adequate and sufficient. Yet it failed because it had such comparatively narrow margins for success and relied upon non-specialist aviation assets and personnel which resulted in the mission being aborted before the subsequent disaster at the mission's 'Desert One' forward staging site. Eight helicopters were used with a minimum requirement of six to complete the mission, however only five arrived at Desert One in an operational condition so the mission was scrubbed by then President Carter. As the force was refuelling prior to withdrawal, one of the helicopters crashed into one of the fuel laden C-130's killing 8 servicemen. At an absolute minimum the mission could have been successful with four helicopters but that would have left a zero margin for error in an original mission plan which already relied heavily upon luck to begin with including seizing and holding a nearby soccer stadium in downtown Tehran as a helicopter LZ/evacuation point. If any hostages or rescue forces had been left behind due to this zero margin, they would've definitely been torn to pieces by the Iranians. This outcome is in fact what led to the creation of the 160th SOAR.

[@the4220]

Obviously a game changer.

[@svjim1]

It lasted until Ronald Reagan was sworn in.

[@arthurkosakowski1098]

Seems this aged poorly given the current Israeli hostage crisis.

[@Katmando007]

Why couldn't US Special Forces get their rescue right?

[@worldofdoom995]

The newer UH-Blackhawk helicopters apparently had mechanical problems. Not to mention our Special Forces program was still in its infancy with the debacle in 1980 pushing us to much more funding, training and equipment.

[@Katmando007]

@@worldofdoom995 Shame they didn't rescue the American hostages. Respect to our brothers in US Special Forces.

[@mynamedoesntmatter8652]

@@Katmando007 There’s a two part documentary on PBS of the Iran hostage crisis. It’s well done and covers the failed rescue attempt and the horrific deaths of our servicemen.

[@Katmando007]

@@mynamedoesntmatter8652 thanks I will look at it later 👍

[@joanhoffmann871]

They were sent in blind. My husband's co-worker was CIA at the time. Carter did not believe in intelligence so the CIA began negotiating with the Soviets for information. This man told me that if Carter had listened to the intelligence the CIA was (finally) able to obtain, there never would've been a rescue attempt. The men who died didn't need to die.

[@williambolden6437]

“And the Worldwide Resources of ABCNEWS. Gotta love it”

[@orangechickengorl]

20:40 LMFAOOOOOOO

[@mehdipireh8159]

United States start it islamise in mid dell east by IRAN in 1979 . Shame to America he sold out SHAH, GOD bless saddat.

[@the4220]

Sadat couldn't do anything about it. It was out of control by that time

[@judedesilva8366]

ABC World News Tonight with Ted Koppel on The Iran Crisis; America Held Hostage, 28:56

[@gregorypatton4706]

actually the shah of Iran was a thousand times worse than Ayatollah how many that's Ayatollah khomeni he tortured and murdered his own people in the United States supported him but k h o m e n I was also a murderer but not nearly as bad still no reason to take over hostages this is a great of all the documentaries I've seen this ABC one is the best one of all

[@mynamedoesntmatter8652]

The Shah was horrible but he was the CIA’s ‘Man for America’ (oil). The ayatollah took Iran back into the dark ages, where all the Shia Muslims are anyway. The ayatollah galvanized them til many of Iran’s people tired of living in the Stone Age, but it was too late by then.

[@briannotafan3368]

it brought americans together

[@HusseinDoha]

(19:05)😂

[@InfoWarsTexas]

5:22 and y’all really believe what you were told about 9/11? 😂

[@dtanner7]

9:25 Plays Johnny Cash better than Joaquin Phoenix

[@KingEric-nr8gv]

20:17

[@jeffreyrichardson]

I am proud of Ronald Regan...

[@fredgarvinMP]

For the October surprise?

[@jimreily7538]

Why ? He didn't do anything. President Carter ensured not one hostage died, at the hands of religious fundamentalists, armed, fervent, fired by hatred, and keen to kill. For 444 days. Carter ensured not a single hostage was killed, nor even severely harmed, owing to his brilliance as a peace maker. An ancient Sumerian saying testifies that, "The leader who makes war, is but a grain of sand. The leader who makes peace, though he may never gain respect from his people in his lifetime, he will gain Universal admiration. For he is as the heavens and the stars, great beyond comprehension. " Blessed are the peacemakers.

[@wokeeye6441]

I am proud of john Hinkley Jr for almost dispatching the Tyrant Reagan back to Satan

[@joanhoffmann871]

@@jimreily7538 If Carter had been a real leader he'd have shut down that embassy long before those crazies took over. He also announced there would be no military action. Not saying he should've done it but a good leader would let them think it might be coming. That's what Reagan would've done, and it would've worked.

[@joanhoffmann871]

@@fredgarvinMP I did some research and I highly doubt it. (The only media outlets who claim that are ultra left-wing, coincidence?) Khomeni was an evil despot who used religion as an excuse to humiliate Jimmy Carter by torturing innocent Americans. He would've held onto the hostages until Carter was gone, even if he'd been approached by Reagan, and that's a big IF.

[@KingEric-nr8gv]

33:19

[@eddiekulp1241]

Every time I see Carter I think of the Iran crisis , what a pitifull legacy he has

[@XXXEspio]

Just like every US president after WWII, not better not worse.

[@PinstripePride85]

“The Iran Crisis” it should say “Iran is a crisis”

[@raymondfrankwick6965]

There was only one May---half-year from Jonestown and hostages being taken in Tehran. And, only one seeing this right (the soul it's meant): When my hometown church suddenly became an Architectural Encirclement-D.O.B.; my birthdate, seen by the one it is a symbol of, over life size, the interior structure of our New Sanctuary built 1970. It happened in that MAY that was half a year after Jonestown, and half a year before the hostages were taken in Tehran. via Regia, or, Royal road Piaget's minted coin of: "one-one correspondence" said so. ---63; 4 (3)...that one May...

[@CornellD.Cavendish]

Muskie is clearly stoned on ibogaine 38:45

[@xtracredits23]

21:20 ummm five women i get but why eight black men 💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀

[@deeppurple883]

There was one ingredient Iran feared, the R,R brand. The 8th Calvery was coming by air sea then land if the hostages weren't freed or harmed . The ayatollah knew this and moved quick and unloaded them while Reagan was being sworn in as president. This I believe was the reason for the sudden release of the hostages, fear. 🤠, 📡🛰️🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🛫🛫🛫🛫🛫🛫✈️✈️✈️✈️💂‍♀️💂‍♂️💂‍♀️💂‍♂️💂‍♀️💂‍♂️💂‍♀️💂‍♂️💂‍♀️💂‍♂️

[@harryricochet8134]

"Ted Koppel here wearing JFK's wig, it took me many hours to remove the former President's brain matter then patch the large hole in the back of it, but I think it looks pretty sweet"

[@mikestevenson576]

All this to buy the Shah another 10 months.

[@walterfielding9079]

It was more than that. It was the image Carter and the Administration was trying to maintain and convey. Which was that people who are friends of the United States will be protected even in terrible circumstances. To leave the Shah out to dry would've shown any other American "ally" that in bad situations the Americans abandon you. Which opens up a lot of opportunities for the Soviets.

[@mikestevenson576]

@@walterfielding9079 Great point.

[@kavehkooroshnia]

For me as i am the god and prophets this revolution was a vital incidence according to the internal collapse and corruption and toxic minds and acts of pahlavi.

[@subversivelysurreal3645]

Xenophobic Narcissistic and Politically Naive ✔️ Suffers from some mental degeneration due to his age ✔️ He’s described as a generalist who doesn’t like to deal with details ✔️ this particular trait creates confusion... THIS SOUNDS LIKE DONALD TRUMP !!!

[@andrewjb05051998]

oRaNgE mAn BaD, oRaNgE mAn RaCiSt!

[@xtracredits23]

@@andrewjb05051998 lmfao

[@paulwilson4369]

12/19/2019 Funny how after 40 years, C_A operations look the same. Let's play Spot the Spook. Same with the 1985 TWA hijacking.

[@mehranyag]

Kir to kose madare khomeni Riedam to gabre khomeni Convert khomeni grave to public Toilet

[@ibenzawla]

One sided documentary and very tough to watch. Very easy on a brutal despot that destroyed a great country with an entire focus on Islamic fundamentalism. No surprise though.

[@barryfields2964]

Abdulai Bah it's ABC not an independent organization if anybody forms an opinion from this one video that's there problem

[@AdamSmith-gs2dv]

This is not a documentary it's a compilation of ABC news broadcasts covering the Iran Hostage Crisis

[@barryfields2964]

Man I forgot how cute Barbara Walters was back in the day 🔥

[@vonSoest]

Barry Fields are you crazy?

[@jimreily7538]

@@vonSoest No, he's just horny

[@constantinvaldor3742]

@@jimreily7538 you can't say that 😲

[@jimreily7538]

@@constantinvaldor3742 Why not

[@rohansawant6317]

Mad Mullas

[@michaelmuriithi6285]

L

[@briannotafan3368]

if i was a guard i would not have given up my post my family would have a flag i swore a oath when joing thee service in 1979 marines must not have general orders

[@the4220]

The military didn't have orders to leave? America was being held hostage by their own government and they didn't even know it. Bait?

[@the4220]

IMO, the marines DID have general orders. It said nothing about getting the heck out of there or protecting Americans.

[@mynamedoesntmatter8652]

You’d have died, and the hostages still would have been taken, maybe more killed. Besides, he didn’t “give up” his post. You’re not up on the particulars of this event.

[@chevy4x466]

Jimmy carter was such a ******

[@zexnynex777]

i believe he was a good, decent peaceful man. obviously certain people in the world see that as weak. sad to say having an asshole for a president is necessary in todays political climate. peaceful will get us killed. pathetic, yet true.

[@wokeeye6441]

But reagan was a bigger one.

[@chevy4x466]

@@wokeeye6441 Reagan was a great president

[@wokeeye6441]

@@chevy4x466 Several recessions under him, and increased are national debt by vast military spending and slashing the taxes of the wealthiest. Real fine president. Read a history book, not infowars

[@chevy4x466]

@@wokeeye6441 8 years peace. He increased the military spending to match the soviet union’s expenditures. Ultimately collapsing the Soviet Union while avoiding ground war much less nuclear war. The debt soared thanks to the democrat congress cramming every budget with kickbacks and pork. Reagan was an enemy of the deep state, they tried to kill him like they killed jfk.

[@briannotafan3368]

make hiroshima look like a firecracker went off

[@declanmurphy6427]

More of this is needed today around the world😂🤣😅🤣😂😅🤣

[@dunnywatson2186]

A lot more

[@judedesilva8366]

ABC World News Tonight with Frank Reynolds on November 14, 1979, 18:16

[@KingEric-nr8gv]

41:52

[@judedesilva8366]

ABC World News Tonight with Frank Reynolds on November 16, 1979, 19:04