Today in History: Iranian Hostages Released Minutes After Presidential Inauguration

By Y.M. Lowy

Yesterday, three Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza were released, bringing a bittersweet sense of relief to their families and all yidden.

This recent hostage release echoes the long and painful history of international standoffs, such as the Iran Hostage Crisis of 1979-1981. On January 20, 1981, the Iran Hostage Crisis concluded with the release of 52 American diplomats and citizens who had been held captive for 444 days. 

This crisis began on November 4, 1979, when militant Iranian students seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, detaining its occupants in response to the United States granting asylum to Iran’s deposed Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, for medical treatment. 

The prolonged captivity of the hostages became a significant point of tension between the United States and Iran, dominating U.S. media coverage and profoundly affecting American domestic politics. The crisis contributed to President Jimmy Carter’s loss in the 1980 presidential election to Ronald Reagan. 

Negotiations for the hostages’ release intensified in the final months of Carter’s presidency, with Algeria acting as an intermediary. These efforts culminated in the signing of the Algiers Accords on January 19, 1981. The following day, mere minutes after President Reagan’s inauguration, the hostages were freed, marking the end of a 14-month ordeal.