Iranian Hostage Crisis
April 7, 1980
The U.S. breaks off diplomatic relations and imposes an embargo on exports to Iran in retaliation for the 63 Americans hostages taken from the U.S. Embassy in Tehran the previous November. The embassy had been taken over by Iranian students who believed the U.S. was attempting to undermine the Iranian Revolution. They also opposed U.S. support of the Shah of Iran who, after being overthrown, went to the U.S. for cancer treatment. They wanted him returned to stand trial for crimes against the Iranian people