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 November 4, 1979, Iranian students [[Iran hostage crisis|seized US embassy personnel]], labeling the embassy a "den of spies." Fifty-two hostages were held for 444 days until January 1981. An American [[Operation Eagle Claw|military attempt to rescue the hostages]] failed.