For several decades before that, the United States had allied with and supported the Shah. During World War II, Allied powers Britain and the Soviet Union occupied to force the abdication of first Pahlavi monarch Reza Shah Pahlavi, in favor of his eldest son, Crown Prince Mohammad.the Muslim Student Followers of the Imam’s Line demanded that Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi return to homeland for trial and execution. Initially, the crisis united Americans in outrage against. Yellow ribbons became a national symbol of solidarity with the hostages.
The coverage helped transform U.S. media, with ABC’s Nightline becoming a permanent fixture. The crisis deepened public skepticism about U.S. power and the ability of leaders to protect citizens abroad. Reagan’s decisive victory demonstrated how foreign crises can reshape domestic politics. The crisis cemented position as a revolutionary Islamic state, opposed to Western influence.
