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On the 43rd Anniversary of the Takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran
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November 4, 2022

 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Office of the Spokesperson

For Immediate Release

STATEMENT BY NED PRICE, SPOKESPERSON

November 4, 2022

On the 43rd Anniversary of the Takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran

Today marks the 43rd anniversary of the takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. Followers of Ayatollah Khomeini held our diplomats hostage for 444 days, tormenting them and, by extension, their families at home in the United States. We are grateful for the selfless sacrifice of our diplomats who served in Tehran – just as we are for the service of all American diplomats who advance U.S. national security interests around the world, often under harrowing circumstances.

Beyond the Embassy takeover, the Iranian regime has a long history of unjustly imprisoning foreign nationals for use as political leverage, and we remain committed to securing the release of all wrongfully detained U.S. citizens. We again underscore that Iran must allow U.S. citizens Emad Shargi, Morad Tahbaz, and Siamak Namazi to return home to their loved ones.