Final answer:
In 1979, Iranians seized the US embassy in Tehran, holding hostages because the US offered refuge to the ousted shah, fueling fears of an imperialistic coup and demands for his extradition and an apology for past US interventions.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 1979, Iranians took over the US embassy and held hostages in response to the United States granting exile and medical treatment to the recently deposed shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The shah was deeply unpopular in Iran due to his tyrannical rule and close ties with Western powers, primarily because of previous US involvement in Iranian affairs, especially the 1953 CIA-aided coup that solidified the shah's power.
Fears among Iranians that the US might be plotting another coup, coupled with a call for the shah to stand trial in Iran and for the US to apologize for past interferences, fueled the siege of the embassy.
The former ruler's arrival in the US for cancer treatment was perceived as support by the US, which infuriated the Iranian revolutionaries leading to the storming of the embassy by students and activists. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the revolution, publicly supported the seizure as it served his political and nationalistic goals, helping to solidify his power, unify the populace, and advance revolutionary objectives.
The Iranian Hostage Crisis lasted for 444 days, with 52 Americans being held captive until their release, which coincided with the inauguration of President Ronald Reagan. The crisis embodied the complex relationship between Iran and the US and left a lasting impact on diplomatic ties.