The Seizure of the U.S. Embassy
On November 4, 1979, a group of Iranian students belonging to the Muslim Student Followers of the Imam’s Line stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. Among the leaders were individuals who would go on to hold significant roles in the Iranian military and government, including Hossein Dehghan, Mohammad Ali Jafari, and Mohammad Bagheri. These students believed their actions were justified as a form of protest against the United States’ continued support for the Shah.
Taking Hostages
Upon breaching the embassy grounds, the students took 53 American diplomats and embassy staff members hostage. The group initially intended for the takeover to be a short-lived demonstration, but it quickly evolved into a prolonged crisis as Ayatollah Khomeini endorsed the students’ actions, framing the embassy occupation as a stand against American imperialism. This endorsement transformed the event from a localized protest into an international crisis, symbolizing the Islamic Republic’s defiance against Western powers.