Editing History of Iran (section)

==== {{anchor|Iran hostage crisis (1979-1981)}}Iran hostage crisis (1979–1981) ====
{{Main|Iran hostage crisis}}
An early event in the history of the Islamic republic that had a long-term impact was the [[Iran hostage crisis]]. Following the admitting of the former Shah of Iran into the United States for cancer treatment, on 4 November 1979, Iranian students [[Iran hostage crisis|seized US embassy personnel]], labeling the embassy a "den of spies."<ref name="carterpbs">[https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/carter/sfeature/sf_hostage.html PBS, American Experience, Jimmy Carter, "444 Days: America Reacts"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110119224031/https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/carter/sfeature/sf_hostage.html |date=2011-01-19 }}, retrieved 1 October 2007</ref> Fifty-two hostages were held for 444 days until January 1981.<ref>Guests of the Ayatollah: The Iran Hostage Crisis: The First Battle in America's War with Militant Islam, Mark Bowden, p. 127, 200</ref> An American [[Operation Eagle Claw|military attempt to rescue the hostages]] failed.<ref name="Atlantic">{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2006/05/the-desert-one-debacle/4803/2/|title=The Desert One Debacle|first=Mark|last=Bowden|website=[[The Atlantic]]|date=May 2006|access-date=2017-03-07|archive-date=2012-07-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730081638/http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2006/05/the-desert-one-debacle/4803/2|url-status=live}}</ref>

The takeover was enormously popular in Iran, where thousands gathered in support of the hostage takers, and it is thought to have strengthened the prestige of the [[Ayatollah Khomeini]] and consolidated the hold of anti-Americanism. It was at this time that Khomeini began referring to America as the "[[Great Satan]]." In America, where it was considered a violation of the long-standing principle of international law that [[diplomatic immunity|diplomats]] may be expelled but not held captive, it created a powerful anti-Iranian backlash. Relations between the two countries have remained deeply antagonistic and American [[international sanctions]] have hurt Iran's economy.<ref>{{Cite journal 
|title=A Review Of US Unilateral Sanctions Against Iran|url=http://www.mafhoum.com/press3/108E16.htm|access-date=2023-03-16
| journal= Middle East Economic Survey
| year = 2002
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010024317/http://www.mafhoum.com/press3/108E16.htm |archive-date=2017-10-10
| volume= 45 | number= 34
| first1 = Herman | last1=Franssen
| first2= Elaine | last2=Morton
}}</ref>