Committee: Historical Security Council
Topic: Iranian Hostage Crisis
About the Chair:
My name is Andrew Landsiedel and I am a senior at Laguna Beach High School. I have
been in MUN all four years of high school and am currently the Secretary General of the
LBHS program. Last year, I went to the North American International Model United
Nations Conference in Washington, D.C. where I won an accommodation award. I am
looking to continue MUN in college. In my free time, I like to run, surf, and work on the
school newspaper.
The events in this conference will begin on April 24, 1980, the day after Operation Eagle
Claw.
Background:
The Iranian Hostage Crisis started when Iranian protesters stormed the United States
embassy in Tehran and took 52 American hostage. These individuals were held for 444
days. After the Iranian Revolution, in which Iranian protesters overthrew the US-backed
Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the United States allowed the deposed Shah to flee to the
United States for medical treatment (he had a terminal form of cancer). This created an
unparalleled amount of outrage amongst the Iranian citizens. The young Iranians were
especially angered. Ebrahim Asgharzadeh, an Islamic student leader at one of Tehran’s
universities, organized several student groups into a makeshift army christened the “The
Muslim Student Followers of the Imam’s Line”.
On November 4, 1979, the students assembled outside of the United States embassy
building. Their original plan was to make a symbolic occupation of the compound; they
intended to enter peacefully, make several press statements, and then leave. However,
when they realized that the armed guards at the embassy were told not to use any sort of
lethal force, they seized opportunity and stormed the building. After securing their place
in the embassy, the group decided to take the 52 Americans left in the building hostage.
The Muslim Students Followers of the Imam’s Line made a press release about their
motivations for the kidnapping. They stated that American involvement in Iranian politics
had caused the country serious damage. The students said that they would release their
prisoners if the US agreed to apologize for their past actions, release the Shah back into
Iranian custody, and unfreeze Iran’s assets and remove the trade sanctions on the country.
Imam Khomeini, who then held power in Iran, gave the students his full support, stating
that it was a momentous move against the imperialistic Americans.
On April 24, 1980, President Jimmy Carter approved an infamous rescue mission called
Operation Eagle Claw. Eight helicopters would made a two day long trip across Iran,
beginning onboard the USS Nimitz and ending in Tehran, where they were supposed to
rescue the hostages. A refueling stop was arranged in a dessert in central Iran. However,
the plan was later abandoned after several of the helicopters experienced equipment
malfunctions. In a now infamous debacle, one of the helicopter’s rotors struck a plane as
it was refueling, creating a fire and a following explosion that would kill eight people.
After the White House announced the botched rescue mission, the American captives
were scattered across Iran. This was a severe blow to American international standing
and to military confidence. It reinforced the position of the radical Islamists in the Iranian
government and all but extinguished the voices of politicians who were fighting for the
release of the Americans.
Eventually, the hostages were released on January 20, 1981, after a series of negotiations.
Many point to this event as the single most crucial moment in Middle Eastern affairs. The
effects on Iran were mixed; although the Iranian government considered themselves
successful, none of their original demands were actually met.
UN Involvement:
The United Nations addressed the Hostage Crisis in two resolutions: Security Council
Resolution 457 and Resolution 461. Resolution 457 was unanimously adopted on
December 4, 1979. The resolution expressed concern regarding the tensions between Iran
and the United States, because the United Nations believed the tensions could possibly
threaten international security. The Security Council requested that Iran release the
American hostages and allow them to exit the country. Resolution 457 also reminded
states to remember the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna
Convention of Consular Relations. The second resolution addressing the Iranian Hostage
Crisis was Resolution 461. It was adopted on December 31, 1970 after the recall of
Resolution 457. This resolution passed with 11 votes for and four abstentions from
Bangladesh, Czechoslovakia, Kuwait, and the Soviet Union. This resolution condemned
Iran and reminded states that the use of force in international relations was condemned.
Bloc Positions:
Western Bloc: Countries in the Western Bloc would wholeheartedly support the United
States. Although some may be deterred by the failure of Operation Eagle Claw, these
nations would push for the immediate release of the captives. They would view the
Iranians as the undisputed aggressors in this situation.
Eastern Bloc: These countries will typically have a mixed view of the situation. Cold War
era politics would definitely set the Soviet Union and other satellite states opposite of the
United States; however, no country would want to see violence as a resolution. Their
policies definitely vary by state, but in general, this bloc would be much more
sympathetic to the Iranians than their western counterparts.
Middle Eastern Bloc: Middle Eastern Bloc nations will be heavily affected by their
loyalties. Nations in this area should be considered on a case-by-case basis. Although
many of them will be happy to see Iran stand up to the imperialistic westerns, some
Middle Eastern countries possess crucial economic ties to the west. These nations have
very complex views on the issue that should be taken into account.
African Bloc: Countries in the African Bloc will be desire a return to the status quo.
Although their politics are fairly neutral, they support the United States in their attempts
to return the hostages peacefully. Although the recent Operation Eagle Claw will
typically have them wary of the westerns, they will be in favor of diplomatic action.
Possible Solutions:
This is the most open ended area of the conference. With historical conferences, it is wise
to consider what has and has not worked in the past; however, it is possible that history
will play out differently. For example, it is possible for the United States to launch
another covert strike. However, we will try to keep it as realistic as possible, so whatever
solution that is chosen could have negative side effects or even fail completely.
That said, there are a lot of different ways to approach this issue. If your country sides
with the United States, there are a variety of different ways to try to pressure the Iranians
into returning the hostages. Trade sanctions and asset freezes were institute during the
crisis, so researching those could be beneficial. Actual military action has, obviously,
failed in the past. Applying pressure through diplomatic means by establishing a united,
international front could be beneficial. It is important for countries with this viewpoint to
consider that Operation Eagle Claw will affect their policy and their proposed solutions.
If your country sides with Iran, it could be wise to speak about possible bias within the
Security Council. An Iranian sympathizer would probably ask that the demands of the
captors be met; namely, that the Shah be returned so that he can stand trial for his crimes
against the Iranian people. This group of nations would be in favor of resolving the
dispute diplomatically, but would wish to weight the terms of future agreements in favor
of Iran.
Questions to Consider:
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What is your country’s bloc position?
Does your country agree with the rest of its bloc? If not, why?
Should there be foreign intervention in the Iranian Hostage Crisis?
Does your nation support sanctions against Iran?
Should the Iranians involved be tried before the International Court of Justice?
Is the United Nations fair, or biased?
What does your country think about the terms upon which the hostages will be
released?
Sources:
http://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/short-history/iraniancrises
http://worldhistoryproject.org/topics/iran-hostage-crisis
http://www.history.com/topics/iran-hostage-crisis
http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/15/world/meast/iran-hostage-crisis-fast-facts/
https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csistudies/studies/spring98/iran.html