An Islamic revolution occurred in Iran that forced the shah of Iran to flee the country. The religious leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini ordered the storming of the American embassy and took hostage more than sixty Americans. The Iran hostage crisis doomed Carter’s presidency, as he was unsuccessful in negotiating with the Ayatollah and a rescue attempt failed miserably. Fifty-two of the hostages were not released until President Ronald Reagan took office.