Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Join this channel to get access to perks, including our exclusive bonus episode placing modern Iran in the context of the long history of Persia:
youtube.com/channel/UCUYK0BJZF3yNb2fw1EdAXUQ/join
Our whole playlist on Iran is available here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEbAHi3fZpuEaTMSBryD1hEgEbXWn-yO4
EP 1: youtu.be/N8OW0aK-oaA
EP 2: youtu.be/VojWVIF3HSg
EP 3: youtu.be/wS2rCTCIbhY
How did America respond after the American Embassy in Tehran was seized, and American citizens taken hostage? Would the hostages survive? And, what became of the Iranian Revolution, and Ayatollah Khomeini?
Join Dominic and Tom, as they unfold the climactic conclusion to the Iranian Revolution, and America’s attempts to bring its hostages home.
Twitter:
@TheRestHistory
@holland_tom
@dcsandbrook
Social channels:
instagram.com/theresthistory
tiktok.com/@theresthistory
https://x.com/TheRestHistory
https://bsky.app/profile/theresthistory.bsky.social
threads.com/@theresthistory
Video Editor: Jack Meek & Harry Swan
Social Producer: Harry Balden
Producers: Aaliyah Akude & Tabby Syrett
Executive Producer: Dom Johnson
Head of Digital & Social: Sam Oakley
00:00 Intro
00:24 Rest Is History Festival announcement
02:50 Carter & Beckwith in the Situation Room
04:07 Setting the stage
08:02 US domestic politics
12:28 Strategy dilemma
16:23 Carter’s approval slide
19:33 Inside the White House
21:33 The rescue plan is formally advanced
24:28 The first “bonkers” plan
25:57 The actual plan explained
28:34 Why they think it might work
30:10 Final green light sequence
37:02 Chaos at Desert One
39:12 The abort
43:15 Aftermath and blame
46:06 What now for the hostages?
47:29 Election endgame
49:05 The “October Surprise”
54:55 Lame-duck torment
58:30 Inauguration timing cruelty
1:02:22 Long shadow
1:06:24 Could it have gone differently?
Join this channel to get access to perks, including our exclusive bonus episode placing modern Iran in the context of the long history of Persia:
youtube.com/channel/UCUYK0BJZF3yNb2fw1EdAXUQ/join
Our whole playlist on Iran is available here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEbAHi3fZpuEaTMSBryD1hEgEbXWn-yO4
EP 1: youtu.be/N8OW0aK-oaA
EP 2: youtu.be/VojWVIF3HSg
EP 3: youtu.be/wS2rCTCIbhY
How did America respond after the American Embassy in Tehran was seized, and American citizens taken hostage? Would the hostages survive? And, what became of the Iranian Revolution, and Ayatollah Khomeini?
Join Dominic and Tom, as they unfold the climactic conclusion to the Iranian Revolution, and America’s attempts to bring its hostages home.
Twitter:
@TheRestHistory
@holland_tom
@dcsandbrook
Social channels:
instagram.com/theresthistory
tiktok.com/@theresthistory
https://x.com/TheRestHistory
https://bsky.app/profile/theresthistory.bsky.social
threads.com/@theresthistory
Video Editor: Jack Meek & Harry Swan
Social Producer: Harry Balden
Producers: Aaliyah Akude & Tabby Syrett
Executive Producer: Dom Johnson
Head of Digital & Social: Sam Oakley
00:00 Intro
00:24 Rest Is History Festival announcement
02:50 Carter & Beckwith in the Situation Room
04:07 Setting the stage
08:02 US domestic politics
12:28 Strategy dilemma
16:23 Carter’s approval slide
19:33 Inside the White House
21:33 The rescue plan is formally advanced
24:28 The first “bonkers” plan
25:57 The actual plan explained
28:34 Why they think it might work
30:10 Final green light sequence
37:02 Chaos at Desert One
39:12 The abort
43:15 Aftermath and blame
46:06 What now for the hostages?
47:29 Election endgame
49:05 The “October Surprise”
54:55 Lame-duck torment
58:30 Inauguration timing cruelty
1:02:22 Long shadow
1:06:24 Could it have gone differently?
