France- RTL, November 21, 2024
In 1979, in the midst of the Iranian revolution, the “Canadian Caper” operation transformed an exfiltration mission into a masterpiece of ingenuity. Lorànt Deutsch immerses you in this incredible adventure where the CIA, with the help of Hollywood, has managed to save American diplomats in danger.
In January 1979, Iran is in full swing. The country, formerly led by the Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, a loyal ally of the United States, is overthrown and Ayatollah Khomeini takes power. In this climate of tension, the United States is making a decision that will ignite the spirits: they welcome the Shah on their soil for medical reasons. This gesture, perceived as a provocation by the new Iranian regime, then fuels anger.
Over the months, relations between Iran and the United States deteriorated, and anti-American demonstrations multiplied. On November 4, 1979, everything changed when the United States Embassy in Tehran was stormed by a group of 300 to 400 Iranian students. Motivated by a desire to end American interference in Iran’sinternal affairs, they hope to strengthen the position of the new Islamic regime. Once inside, they captured 52 Americans and held them hostage. Everything is carefully planned. The hostages are displayed in front of television cameras, blindfolded and hands tied. These images quickly go around the world.
In this chaos, six people nevertheless manage to escape discreetly from the embassy. But the streets of Tehran are closely guarded by militiamen and soldiers and the danger is everywhere. If these Americans are discovered, they risk being captured again by Iranian leaders. The situation then becomes a matter of life and death…
Canadian Ambassador Ken Taylor, aware of the imminent dangers for American diplomats hiding in Tehran, alerted the American authorities to avoid a major diplomatic crisis. As an ally, it hopes to mobilize the necessary resources to orchestrate a rescue operation. The CIA then developed a plan worthy of the greatest Hollywood films. The intelligence agency is considering an exfiltration, with a risky plan: to disguise the six American diplomats as Canadians employed by a fictional production company located in Hollywood. An operation called “Canadian Caper”.
