Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has reminded the United States of its historic military defeat in Tabas, Tehran, on May 5, 1980. " The reminder comes amidst ongoing tensions between the two nations.
President Pezeshkian's Message on X
" He further mentioned that this year, by God's grace, another "Tabas" occurred in southern Isfahan, proving that the "God of the Tabas sands" remains the protector of the Iranian people. He expressed hope that such failures would continue to serve as lessons for global powers.
The History of Operation Eagle Claw
Tabas, a city in Iran's South Khorasan province, is the site of the failed US military mission known as Operation Eagle Claw. Launched on April 24-25, 1980, by then-President Jimmy Carter, the secret operation aimed to rescue 53 American diplomats held hostage in Tehran. The hostage crisis began in November 1979 when students took over the US Embassy during the Islamic Revolution. After diplomatic efforts failed, the Carter administration opted for a military rescue mission to restore national honor.
Technical Failures and the Desert Disaster
The US military deployed 8 helicopters and C-130 aircraft to a desert landing zone near Tabas.
Significance of May 5 and Aftermath
While the actual military disaster occurred in late April, Iran commemorates the event on May 5. This is because the bodies of the fallen US soldiers were handed over to Washington on May 5, 1980. In Iran, the event is celebrated as a moment of divine intervention and a humiliating defeat for the US. This failure led to a significant overhaul of US military structures, resulting in the formation of the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM). No hostages were rescued during the operation.