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Mohammad Mosaddegh Overthrown
Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh, the main rival of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahvali, is overthrown by US and British spy agencies. The Shah is then put into power and declares himself an absolute monarch. -
Jimmy Carter Toasts the Shah
President Jimmy Carter angers many anti-Shah Iranains by toasting the Shah on live TV, claiming that he is a good leader and that his people love him. This is almost opposite of what most Iranians believed at the time. -
Black Friday Shootings
One of the more infamous events during the Shah's reign, thousands of protesters gathered for a religious demonstration at Jaleh Square in Tehran, Iran. When the demonstrators refused to cooperate with martial law, police opened fire and killed or wounded many. -
Shah Goes into Exile
The Shah signs a document that forces him to leave Iran forever in exile. -
Ayatollah Khomeni Returns to Iran
After 15 yars in exile, revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeni returns to Iran. -
Planning of Takeover Started
Student Ebrahim Asgharzadeh begins to plan the takeover of the embassy. -
US Allows the Shah in for Medical Treatment
In an act that drove Iranains furious, the US allowed the exiled Shah into the US for lymphoma treatment. The Iranains believed that the US was sheltering him, as they wanted to try him for war crimes. -
Seizure of the Embassy
At about 6:30 am, ringleaders gathered between 300 and 500 students for the demonstration. Originally planned to be a peaceful protest, the students grew violent as the Marines guarding the embassy drew their weapons. -
13 Hostages Released
The Ayatollah released 13 women and Africian American hostageas, claiming that they were aready being oppressed by America. Richard Queen was later released due to multiple sclerosis. -
Failed Rescue Mission
In this disatorous mission, President Jimmy Carter sent a team of eight helicopters carrying Delta Force opperatives to try and rescue the hostages. Two of the helicopters never made it to the rendezvous, and the mission was aborted. The plane sent to pick up the Delta crashed, and killed eight US servicemen. Many point to this as one of the reasons Jimmy Carter lost re-election in 1980. -
Hostages Released
Right at the moment that newly elected President Ronald Reagan finsihed his 20 minute long inauguration speech, the remaining 52 hostages were released from captivity. They were recieved by now former President Carter.
