Iran Hostage Crisis Ends with the Signing of the Algiers Accords

On January 20, 1981, as Ronald Reagan became President, the hostages were flown from Teheran to Europe, and on to New York.

The crisis was over.

The lasting effects of the crisis were numerous. The failure of Operation Eagle Claw to rescue the hostages, together with the intelligence problems caused by President Carter's cutbacks to the CIA, gave President Reagan political fuel for a major military buildup. Iran began a long war with neighboring Iraq with its economy and military capability severely damaged. Antipathy between the U.S. and Iran was established for years to come.

The Algiers Accords of January 19, 1981, were brokered by the Algerian government between the United States and Iran to resolve the Iran hostage crisis. The crisis arose from the takeover of the American embassy in Tehran on November 4, 1979, and the taking hostage of the American staff there. By this accord the 52 American citizens were set free and able to leave Iran.

Among its chief provisions are:

* The US would not intervene politically or militarily in Iranian internal affairs

* The US would remove a freeze on Iranian assets and trade sanctions on Iran

* Both countries would end litigation between their respective governments and citizens referring them to international arbitration, namely the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal.

* The US would ensure that US court decisions regarding the transfer of any property of the former Shah would be independent from "sovereign immunity principles" and would be enforced

* Iranian debts to US institutions would be paid

The US chief negotiator was Deputy Secretary of State Warren Christopher.