444 Days: Voices of the Iran Hostage Crisis
To mark the 40th anniversary of the Iranian hostage crisis the Council gathers former US officials who lived through those tense days in Tehran to recount their experiences.
About This Event
Forty years have passed since the world was gripped by events in Iran, as revolutionary students seized the United States Embassy and began the longest hostage crisis in history. Some American diplomats and officials escaped with the help of the Canadian government and the Central Intelligence Agency, others were released early by their captors, but 52 were held hostage for 444 days. To mark the 40th anniversary of the Iranian hostage crisis, US officials—who lived through those tense days in Tehran—recount their experiences and reflect on how those events set the tone for the brittle relationship between the US and Iran in the decades since.
About the Speakers
Matthew Abbott
Former Director, Government and Diplomatic Programs
Matt Abbott joined the Chicago Council on Global Affairs in 2015 as the director of government and diplomatic programs.
Amir Farmanesh
CEO, People Analytics (IranPoll)
In his current role, Amir Farmanesh focuses on demystifying people's behaviors and opinions in complex societies and difficult contexts. He previously served as a visiting professor at the University of Toronto, an Edmond Safra fellow with Harvard University, a governance consultant with the World Bank Group, and a policy fellow with the US National Academy of Sciences.
Kathryn Koob
Former Adjunct Professor, Wartburg College; Former Director, Iran America Center (1979)
Kathleen Stafford
Artist; Former Visa Clerk, US Embassy Tehran (1979)