United States Cuts Diplomatic Ties with Iran

President Carter severs all diplomatic relations with Iran and imposes sweeping economic sanctions following the embassy takeover and continued hostage captivity.

Following months of failed negotiations over the hostage crisis and Iran's refusal to release the American captives, President Jimmy Carter formally broke off diplomatic relations with Iran in January 1980 and expelled Iranian diplomats from the United States. The US also imposed a complete embargo on trade with Iran and froze approximately $12 billion in Iranian assets held in US banks. The two nations have not maintained formal diplomatic relations since, making this one of the longest diplomatic ruptures between major powers in modern history. Pakistan serves as Iran's protecting power in the US, while Switzerland represents American interests in Tehran.