Final answer:
To address the Iranian Hostage Crisis, President Carter froze Iranian assets, imposed an oil embargo, and deported Iranian students. Political pressure led to a failed rescue mission, but geopolitical changes prompted negotiations that ultimately freed the hostages.
Step-by-step explanation:
In response to the Iranian Hostage Crisis, President Jimmy Carter took several actions to secure the release of the American hostages held in Tehran. Carter's initial response included freezing Iranian assets in the US, imposing an embargo on Iranian oil, and deporting Iranian college students.
Despite initially gaining public support, the prolonged crisis led to criticism of Carter’s handling of the situation. A rescue attempt named Operation Eagle Claw ended in tragedy when a helicopter and a refueling plane collided, resulting in the loss of eight servicemen and no hostages were rescued. The Iranian Hostage Crisis continued to dominate television coverage, influencing the American public’s perception of the situation.
Eventually, geopolitical shifts, such as the outbreak of the Iran-Iraq War, changed the dynamics of the crisis. Ayatollah Khomeini began to see the hostages as bargaining chips, leading to negotiations that involved the unfreezing of nearly $8 billion in Iranian assets. The hostages were finally released on January 20, 1981, concluding the 444-day crisis as President Carter left office and Ronald Reagan was inaugurated.