The Canadian Rescue of Six Americans from Tehran

The rescue began with the collapse of ordinary diplomatic protection. On 4 November 1979, supporters of Ayatollah Khomeini seized the American embassy in Tehran and took its occupants hostage. Six Americans escaped immediate capture, but remaining outside the compound exposed them to discovery. One first found refuge with the Swedish embassy; others sheltered temporarily in a colleague's apartment before contacting Canadian officials. [1]

Canadian ambassador Ken Taylor informed Ottawa that he intended to provide shelter. The proposal moved through senior external affairs officials to Foreign Minister Flora MacDonald, who obtained Prime Minister Joe Clark's approval. [1]

Six Americans boarded a Swissair flight out of Tehran on 27 January 1980 carrying Canadian passports. They had escaped the seizure of the American embassy the previous November. [1]

For weeks, Canadian diplomats Ken Taylor and John Sheardown concealed the Americans in their homes, where discovery threatened the guests and those sheltering them. Ottawa supplied passports, while a joint operation with the CIA prepared a cover story in which the six were members of a film production party looking for locations. Papers and rehearsals had to make that unfamiliar identity credible when they reached the airport. [1]

The aircraft was delayed on the ground for about an hour before taking off without a pursuit. Canada closed its embassy, and the remaining Canadian staff left later that day. [1]

Related Diplomats

1. Peter Towe [2] [1]

Related Reading

• Canada and the United States