Why did Iranians take 53 Americans hostage at the American embassy in Iran?
Responses
to force the United States to lift the oil ban
because the U.S. government allowed the shah to travel to the United States for medical treatment
because Ayatollah Khomeini took over the Iranian government
to protest the shah’s favoring of American democracy
- because the takeover was seen as retaliation against the United States for its interference in Iranian affairs
- to demonstrate opposition to U.S. support of the Shah's regime