The Release of the Hostages and the Algiers Accords
The Iran Hostage Crisis finally ended on January 20, 1981, just as Ronald Reagan was sworn in as president. The release of the hostages was facilitated through the Algiers Accords, a series of negotiations mediated by Algeria. Under the terms of the accords, the United States agreed to release billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets and promised not to interfere in Iran’s internal affairs. In return, the Iranian government released the hostages, ending their 444-day ordeal.
The timing of the hostages’ release—coinciding with Reagan’s inauguration—sparked various theories and speculations, some suggesting that behind-the-scenes negotiations had played a role. Nevertheless, the Algiers Accords formally ended the crisis and established certain commitments between Iran and the United States, though diplomatic relations between the two countries remained severed.