The document summarizes the Canadian Caper, in which six American diplomats escaped from Iran during the hostage crisis in 1979. Tony Mendez, a CIA expert in disguise, created a plan for the diplomats to pose as a Canadian film crew in order to obtain fake passports and fly out of Iran. On January 27, 1980, Mendez and the six Americans successfully flew from Tehran to Zurich using the cover story. The Canadians who helped in the rescue received honors from both the Canadian and US governments. The remaining 52 American hostages were finally released in 1981 after over a year in captivity.

1. The Canadian Caper
Presenter
Sheikh Jalal
Project ARGO

2. Background
• When the Islamist Iranian Revolution occurred,
the U.S.-backed Shah of Iran, Mohammad
Reza Pahlavi, fled the country, leaving it in
disarray.
• Amid the turmoil, a mob of youthful Islamists, calling
themselves the Muslim Student Followers of the
Imam's Line, stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran on
November 4, 1979
• Captured dozens of diplomats and holding them
hostage, demanding the return of the Shah

3. Background (contd.)
• The provisional government fell shortly thereafter,
when Prime Minister Mehdi Bazargan and his
cabinet resigned.
• Although the new Iranian government first stated
that the hostage-takers were merely students
acting on their own.
• Afterwards, it joined them in demands for the return
of the Shah.
• Most of the hostages were held until early 1981.

4. Contents
• Sanctuary
• Escape Plan
• Rescue
• Reaching homeland
• Government Rewards
• Remaining Hostages

5. Sanctuary
• Robert Anders, Mr. and Mrs. Lijek, Mr. and Mrs.
Stafford and Lee Schatz were the six American
diplomats who were working in the consulate.
• The consulate was a separate building in the
embassy compound.
• When the Iranians swarmed over the wall. They fled
into Tehran's streets.
• Lee Schatz managed to take refuge in Swedish
Embassy.
• 5 other headed towards British embassy.
• Nearing the British embassy, saw a huge crowd
staging a protest in their path.

6. Sanctuary (contd.)
• Robert Anders invited the others to his home, as he
lived nearby
• After three days, the Bazargan government fell, and
everyone realized the upcoming troubles
• Looking for options, Anders contacted his old friend
John Sheardown, a Canadian immigration officer,
and received an enthusiastic invitation for the entire
group.
• From there, the six were then moved to Canadian
ambassador Ken Taylor’s home
• Lee Schatz joined his group after two weeks.
• The six were now in hiding and would remain there
for 79 days

7. • Ambassador Taylor contacted then Canadian
Secretary of State for External Affairs & Canadian
Prime Minister for assistance, who expressed support
for the effort.
• They decided to smuggle the six Americans out of
Iran on an international flight using Canadian
passports.
• To do so, an Order in Council was made for the
issuance of Canadian passports to the American
diplomats in Canadian sanctuary.
• The granted passports contained a set of forged
Iranian visas prepared by the U.S. CIA that would be
used to attempt an escape from Iran.
Sanctuary (contd.)

8. • The CIA enlisted its disguise and exfiltration
Expert, Tony Mendez, to provide a cover
story, documents, appropriate clothing
and materials to change their appearance.
• Mendez worked closely with Canadian
government staff in Ottawa.
• He forwarded the passports and other
supporting material to the Canadian
embassy through a Canadian diplomatic
courier.
• Mendez then flew to Tehran with an
associate known as "Julio" to assist with the
rescue.
Escape Plan
Tony Mendez
Julio

9. Escape Plan (contd.)
• The cover story selected had the six being a
Hollywood crew scouting movie locations.
• The script based on the 1967 fiction novel Lord of
Light was made.
• A production office was set up in Los Angeles by
the name “Studio Six”.
• Display ads for the "Studio Six" production were
placed in Hollywood publications.
• In addition to the office, fake business cards were
printed.
• A film party was held at a nightclub in Los Angeles,
and advertisements were taken out in Variety and
The Hollywood Reporter magazines.

10. • A well known Hollywood makeup artist posed as a
film producer.
• Mendez, then helped the six to practice their
assigned roles and guided them how to respond to
any situation.
• Now they all were set to make attempt to leave Iran.
Escape Plan (contd.)

11. Rescue
• Early in the morning on Sunday, January 27, 1980,
Mendez, "Julio", and the six American diplomats,
traveling with real Canadian passports and forged
entry documents, made it easily through security at
Tehran's Mehrabad Airport.
• After a short delay because of mechanical
difficulties with the jet airliner, the group of eight
boarded Swissair flight 363 for Zürich, Switzerland

12. Reaching Homeland
• Upon landing in Zürich, the six
diplomats were taken by CIA
operatives to a mountain
lodge safe house for the night.
• There, they were told, for
diplomatic purposes, not to
talk to the press, and that they
would be kept hidden in a
secret location in Florida until
the hostage situation was
resolved.

13. Reaching Homeland (contd.)
• After the six American left on Sunday, January 27,
the Canadian embassy was closed that same day.
• Taylor and the remaining staff returning to Canada.
• The six Americans arrived home on January 30,
1980.

14. Government Rewards
• The Canadians involved in the rescue were
awarded The Order of Canada, the second highest
civilian award.
• Taylor was subsequently awarded the
Congressional Gold Medal by the US Congress for
his assistance to the US government.
• The six hostages were invited on a lunch by the US
president Jimmy Carter.

15. • American gratitude for the Canadian rescue effort
was displayed widely and by numerous American
television personalities.
• The Canadian flag was flown across the US, along
with "Thank You" billboards.

16. 52 Hostages
• In April 1980, there was a failed attempt to rescue
the hostages which resulted in the deaths of eight
American servicemen, one Iranian civilian, and the
destruction of two aircraft.

17. • The release of the hostages was prompted by the
invasion of Iran by Saddam Hussein, in combination
with the death of the exiled Shah.
• The Algiers Accords was signed on January 20, 1981
by President Ronald Reagan, just minutes after he
was sworn into office.
• All hostages were released the following day 444
days in captivity.
(contd.)
The End

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