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Timeline
of the Crisis
(from the Associated Press)
- Nov 4, 1979 Iranian militants seize the US Embassy
and take 66 Americans hostage, demanding that the US send
the deposed Shah back to Iran.
- Nov 9, 1979 The United Nations Security Council
calls on the militants to release the hostages.
- Nov 12, 1979 President Carter orders a halt to
oil imports from Iran.
- Nov 14, 1979 President Carter freezes all Iranian
assets in the United States.
- Nov 19-20, 1979 Thirteen hostages, five women
and eight black men, are released.
- Dec 4, 1979 The UN Security Council votes unanimously
to urge Iran to free the hostages.
- Dec 12, 1979 The State Department orders the expulsion
of 183 Iranian diplomats.
- Dec 15, 1979 The Shah flies to what is called temporary
exile in Panama.
- Jan 25, 1980 Abolhassan Bani-Sadr is elected President
of Iran.
- Jan 29, 1980 It is disclosed that the Canadian
Embassy in Teheran spirited six Americans out of Iran.
- April 7, 1980 The US breaks its diplomatic relationship
with Iran and imposes economic sanctions.
- April 25, 1980 A US military operation to free
the hostages is aborted.
- April 28, 1980 Secretary of State Cyrus R. Vance
resigns.
- July 27, 1980 The Shah dies in Cairo.
- Sept 12, 1980 Ayatollah Khomeini lists four conditions
for the hostages' release: return of the Shah's wealth,
cancellation of American claims, unfreezing of Iranian assets
in American banks, and a promise not to interfere in Iran's
affairs. (A prior demand for an official U.S. apology was
conspicuously absent.)
- Sept 22, 1980 Border hostilities between Iraq and
Iran turn into war.
- Nov 2, 1980 The Iranian Parliament votes to release
the hostages if the United States accepts the four conditions
set down by Ayatollah Khomeini.
- Nov 4, 1980 Ronald Reagan is elected President.
- Nov 10, 1980 The US delivers to Algeria its response
to Iran's four conditions. Negotiations continue.
- Jan 8, 1981 Deputy Secretary of State Christopher
flies to Algiers to clarify points raised by Iran.
- Jan 18, 1981 Iran accepts the agreement and final
details are worked out.
- Jan 19, 1981 Financial complications delay the
release of the hostages.
- Jan 20, 1981 Hostages are released as Ronald Reagan
becomes President.
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