The initial plan was to hold the embassy for only a short time, but this changed after it became apparent how popular the takeover was and that Khomeini had given it his full support. One hostage, Colonel Charles Scott, recalled that captors sometimes debated ideology with prisoners, framing the crisis as a clash between Islamic revolution and Western imperialism. The mission revealed severe coordination problems between different military branches.
In 1980, the Pentagon created JSOC to unify elite forces like Delta Force, Navy SEALs, and Rangers under one command. The hostage crisis highlighted the need for units trained in urban hostage rescues, embassy assaults, and counterterrorism operations. Better helicopters, night-vision technology, and desert warfare training became priorities. The U.S. military began planning for “low-intensity conflicts” — smaller, unconventional operations distinct from traditional wars.
