The US-Iran Standoff doesn’t seem to come to a resolution in near future after the statements given by the Supreme Leader of Islamic Republic of Iran
Thousands of Iranians have come to the streets of Tehran in Islamic Republic of Iran today, i.e., November 4, 2019 to mark the 40 years of Iran Hostage Crisis.
The day is also known In Iran as ‘Student Day’ and the ‘National Day of the Fight against Global Arrogance.’
What is Iran Hostage Crisis?
The Iran Hostage Crisis was a diplomatic standoff between the U.S. and Iran. 52 American diplomats and citizens were held hostage for 444 days from November 4, 1979, to January 20, 1981, after a group of Iranian college students belonging to the Muslim Student Followers of the Imam’s Line, who supported the Iranian Revolution, took over the U.S. Embassy in Tehran.
In Iran, it was widely seen as a retaliation against the U.S. and its influence in Iran, including the backing of the then ruler – Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who was overthrown by the people of Iran in 1979. After being overthrown, Pahlavi was admitted to the U.S. for cancer treatment. Iran demanded his return for commencing trail against the crimes committed by him. The request was rejected by the U.S. The then president of the U.S. – Jimmy Carter had called the act as ‘blackmail’.
The U.S. President ordered a rescue mission, ‘Operation Eagle Claw’ to get back the 52 diplomats. But the mission failed. Later, Pahlavi, left the U.S. and took asylum in Egypt, where he died from complications of cancer at age 60 on July 27, 1980. In September 1980, Iraq invaded Iran, leading Iran to enter negotiations with the U.S., with Algeria as a mediator. The hostages were formally released the day after the signing of the Algiers Accords, just minutes after Ronald Reagan sworn in as the President of U.S.
Khamenei refuses to hold talks with U.S.
The Supreme Leader of Islamic Republic of Iran – Ali Khamenei has ruled out possibilities of negotiations with the United States (U.S.), a day before the 40th anniversary of the hostage crisis at the U.S. embassy in Tehran.
Addressing the nation, in a televised speech, Khamenei said, “Those who see negotiations with the US as the solution to every problem are certainly mistaken. Nothing will come out of talking to the US, because they certainly and definitely won’t make any concessions.”
However, Khamenei also said that the U.S. – Iran tussle did not start with the Iran Hostage Crisis. It dates back to 1953 when U.S. overthrew an Iranian Government, which had trusted the U.S. and had later established a corrupt and puppet Government in Iran.
The coup organised by civilian foreign intelligence service of the Federal Government of the U.S. – Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was supported by Britain. Together, they managed to topple the then Prime Minister of Iran – Mohammad Mossadegh, who is credited for nationalising Iran’s oil industry. This was done as U.S. and Britain wanted to re-establish the rule of Iran’s former ruler – Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
Khamenei made a tweet which read, “The Americans distort history & pretend that the Iran-U.S. disputes stem from the embassy capture. NO! It goes back to the 1953 coup, when the U.S. overthrew a national govt. – which had made the mistake of trusting the U.S. – and established its corrupt and puppet govt. in Iran.”
The Americans distort history & pretend that the Iran-U.S. disputes stem from the embassy capture. NO! It goes back to the 1953 coup, when the U.S. overthrew a national govt. – which had made the mistake of trusting the U.S. – and established its corrupt and puppet govt. in Iran.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) November 3, 2019
Khamenei also referred to the denuclearisation talks between the U.S. and the North Korea. He said that despite several rounds of negotiations, U.S. has not lifted a single sanction.
Khamenei added, “That’s how they are in negotiations; they’ll say we brought you to your knees and won’t make any concessions at the end.”
The Recent Crisis
The tensions U.S and Iran hit a new low after U.S. abandoned the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as Iran nuclear deal in 2018. The deal was reached in Vienna on July 14, 2015, between Iran, the P5+1 (the 5 permanent members of the United Nations Security Council—China, France, Russia, U.K., U.S. – plus Germany) and European Union (E.U.).
As per the agreement, Iran agreed to eliminate its stockpile of medium-enriched uranium, cut its stockpile of low-enriched uranium by 98%, and reduce by about 2/3rd the number of its gas centrifuges for 13 years. For the next 15 years Iran was required only to enrich uranium up to 3.67%. The relations got worse when Iran, in response to U.S.’s withdrawal, produced low-enriched uranium beyond the permissible limits of JCPOA. Post this, the relations turned hostile after Iran claimed they have downed a U.S. drone on June 20, 2019 over the Strait of Hormuz. This was followed by downing of an Iranian drone by USS Boxer, an amphibious assault ship of U.S. Navy, on July 19, 2019, in the Strait of Hormuz.
Khamenei also said that tomorrow U.S. will also start interfering in the religious laws of the country. “Washington will say give up religious laws and don’t insist on the issue of the hijab,” said Khamenei.
Separately, in September 2019, the U.S. had released satellite images and intelligence report to support its claim of Iran’s involvement in the drone attack at State-owned Aramco oil facilities in Saudi Arabia. Although Yemen based Houthi group had claimed the responsibility of the attack, the U.S. has reiterated that it has proof of Iran’s involvement in the attack. Contrary to U.S.’s claims, Iran has blamed U.S. of promoting economic terrorism against Iran.
After the victory of the #Revolution, during the last 41 years, the U.S. has carried out all the hostile actions it knew against the Iranian people.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) November 3, 2019
Of course, we were not inactive and did everything we could to confront the U.S.; and in many cases, we managed to corner them.
In another tweet, Khamenei said, “After the victory of the #Revolution, during the last 41 years, the U.S. has carried out all the hostile actions it knew against the Iranian people. Of course, we were not inactive and did everything we could to confront the U.S.; and in many cases, we managed to corner them.”
