The Americans saw the hostage-taking as an egregious violation of the principles of international law, which granted diplomats immunity from arrest and made diplomatic compounds inviolable.The crisis reached a climax after diplomatic negotiations failed to win release for the hostages. The crisis dominated American news for over a year. ABC’s late-night program Nightline began as “America Held Hostage,” reporting daily updates. The crisis crippled Carter’s presidency and was a major factor in Ronald Reagan’s decisive 1980 election victory.
Americans experienced a mix of anger, humiliation, and helplessness, while the hostages became national symbols of endurance. Intense negotiations, mediated by Algeria, eventually led to the Algiers Accords in January 1981. On January 20, 1981, just minutes after Ronald Reagan took the presidential oath, the hostages were released and flown to West Germany before returning home to the United States. Diplomatic ties were severed and have never been fully restored. Suspicion, hostility, and sanctions became hallmarks of bilateral relations.
