Only a few months had passed since the victory of the Islamic Revolution of the Iranian people when major universities, including Sharif University of Technology, where we were students, witnessed widespread propaganda activities by leftist groups and the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK) against the measures taken by the government and the Revolution. Armed movements also took place in the regions of Kurdistan, Gonbad-e Kavus, and Azerbaijan, alongside gatherings of anti-revolutionary opponents.
Amid the prevailing conditions in the country and the movements being carried out in various regions against the course of the Islamic Revolution, and taking into account the American government's support for the Shah's regime, Imam Khomeini, the leader of the Islamic Revolution, called upon students and university communities to raise their voices in protest against the policies of the American government.
Students from several major universities across the country, including Sharif University of Technology, the University of Tehran, the National University (currently Shahid Beheshti University), and the Polytechnic University (currently Amirkabir University of Technology), responded to Imam Khomeini's call and to the tense atmosphere prevailing in several regions. In fulfillment of their student responsibilities, they decided to enter the arena and take a fundamental step.
According to the analyses of the student representatives of these four universities, the American government, which had granted asylum to the deposed Shah under the pretext of medical treatment, was considered the center of subversive and anti-revolutionary activities in the country. Therefore, it was decided to take control of the center directing these activities, halt its operations, restore calm to the country, and return the deposed Shah to Iran.
Based on the decisions made, November 4, 1979, was chosen as the date for the move toward the American Embassy. This day coincided with the anniversary of Imam Khomeini's exile to Turkey in 1964, as well as the anniversary of the martyrdom of several Iranian students at the hands of agents of the Pahlavi regime in front of the University of Tehran on November 4, 1978.
At 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 4, 1979, a protest movement involving approximately 400 students from four universities began. The students set out from the eastern side of Taleghani Street toward the main gate of the American Embassy. The movement culminated in the students entering the embassy compound through its main gate, bringing the embassy—which the students described as the American government's "den of espionage"—under the control of Muslim students following the Imam's path.
The students, who considered themselves followers of the Imam's line, declared that this revolutionary action had been undertaken in response to the Imam's call, with the aim of restoring calm to the country and securing the return of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. They intended to leave the embassy after three days and return to their universities to continue their studies.
The students' motivations for seizing the embassy were conveyed to Imam Khomeini through Ayatollah Seyyed Mousavi Khoiniha, a cleric trusted by the students, and through the late Hojjatoleslam wal-Muslimin Hajj Seyyed Ahmad Khomeini.
Having learned of the students' motivations and viewing their action as support for the Revolution and a condemnation of the American government's measures, Imam Khomeini declared: "In Iran, another revolution has taken place, a revolution greater than the first one."
The Imam's position on this issue demonstrated that, at that stage, he had recognized the hegemonic nature and aggressive and colonialist tendencies of the American government. Accordingly, on November 5, 1979, he clearly declared that "America is the Great Satan in this revolution."
During the operation to take control of the embassy, the Muslim students following the Imam's line managed to seize all locations within the embassy compound without using weapons or harming the Americans present inside. They also issued various statements addressed to the Iranian people and international public opinion, explaining their objectives and motivations for the action, as well as the conditions they had set for the release of the American hostages.
The release of female and Black hostages by order of the Imam was, according to the text, evidence of the Imam's and the Iranian people's concern for Black people and their respect for women. After Imam Khomeini referred the hostage issue to the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Parliament), the remaining hostages were eventually released after 444 days, in January 1981, under the Algiers Accords signed between the governments of Iran and the United States.
According to the author, any attempt to undermine this revolutionary and student movement—which received the Imam's full endorsement and was supported by the martyred Leader of the Revolution in his speeches and messages at various stages—and to portray it as the result of incitement by communist minority groups or the former Soviet Union reflects a lack of precise understanding of the circumstances of that period and of the courageous and independent decision made by the students during that sensitive time.
Furthermore, attributing the outbreak of the eight-year war launched by the Iraqi Ba'ath Party regime to the seizure of the American Embassy demonstrates an inadequate understanding of the documents, reasons, and circumstances that led Saddam Hussein to initiate the war against Iran.
Considering all the issues and problems that have existed between the United States and Iran from the victory of the Revolution until today as consequences of this action indicates that we have not adequately understood the hegemonic and domineering nature of the American government. It also shows that we have failed to provide a proper analysis of America's actions and conspiracies against the Iranian people and their country.
The author believes that the current American president's actions against the Iranian people and the country, his declaration of the need to destroy Iran's civilization, which has existed for thousands of years, his imposition of wars lasting 12 days and 40 days, and the continuation of this confrontation to the present day constitute a clear manifestation of what the author describes as the satanic and inhumane nature of the American government.
There is no doubt that, throughout these years, the Islamic Republic could have acted with greater wisdom and intelligence by adopting appropriate strategies at both the domestic and international levels, developing communication and interaction with other countries in a manner consistent with its highest national interests and benefits, and making more prudent and judicious use of available opportunities to improve the conditions of the people and the country.