Today marks 44 years since followers of Ayatollah Khomeini took U.S. diplomats hostage at our embassy in Tehran and held them in horrific conditions for more than a year.
Today marks 44 years since followers of Ayatollah Khomeini took U.S. diplomats hostage at our embassy in Tehran and held them in horrific conditions for more than a year.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesperson
For Immediate Release
STATEMENT BY MATTHEW MILLER, SPOKESPERSON
November 4, 2023
The 44th Anniversary of the Takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran
Today marks 44 years since followers of Ayatollah Khomeini took U.S. diplomats hostage at our embassy in Tehran and held them in horrific conditions for more than a year. We are grateful to our diplomats who served in Tehran and to all the American diplomats who work every day to advance our interests in dangerous situations around the world.
Unfortunately, the Iranian regime has a long history of unjustly detaining foreign nationals that continues today. In September, we were overjoyed to reunite five Americans with their loved ones after their release from the Iranian regime’s captivity. While we celebrate their release and the departure from Iran of two of their family members who had been prevented from leaving the country, we condemn Iran’s continued detention of foreign citizens for use as bargaining chips. We condemn the Iranian regime’s ongoing support for Hamas and other terrorist groups across the Middle East region that engage in the abhorrent practice of hostage-taking.
We take the opportunity to remind U.S. citizens that they should not travel to Iran for any reason due to the risk of arbitrary arrest and detention. The United States is committed to working with like-minded partners to end the practices of hostage-taking and wrongful detention and to promote accountability for Iran and other regimes that engage in the cruel practice of unjustly detaining other countries’ citizens.
In the absence of diplomatic or consular relations of the United States of America with the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Swiss government, acting through its Embassy in Tehran, has served as the Protecting Power of the USA in Iran since 21 May 1980. The Swiss Embassy’s Foreign Interests Section provides consular services to U.S. citizens living in or travelling to Iran.
The Swiss Embassy can provide the following services: Reporting the Death of a U.S. Citizen, Passport Services, Report of a Birth Abroad, Local Resources (Notarial Services, Medical Assistance) and Social Security.