Final answer:
During Joe Clark's tenure as Prime Minister of Canada, 6 Americans trapped in Iran were able to escape with the help of fake Canadian papers during the Iran hostage crisis, an event known as the Canadian Caper.
Step-by-step explanation:
During Joe Clark's tenure (1979-80), 6 Americans trapped in Iran were able to escape using fake Canadian papers. This historical event is famously known as the Canadian Caper, which unfolded during the Iran hostage crisis. A covert operation was set into motion, which involved the collaboration of Canadian and American governments to provide the Americans with Canadian identities, enabling their successful exfiltration from Tehran amidst tense diplomatic relations between Iran and the USA.
The situation stemmed from the broad political tensions of the time, as highlighted by the storming of the U.S. embassy in Tehran by Iranian students, leading to the capture and 444-day detainment of American hostages. The escape of these six Americans, thanks to the help of Canadian officials and with the authorization of Prime Minister Joe Clark, was a rare positive moment in what was an otherwise fraught and dangerous international incident.