From the 1979 Embassy Takeover to the 12-Day War
WANA (Oct 04) – In his recent speech to Israeli military officials, Donald Trump declared: “We are ready whenever the Iranians are ready… our hand is open… they want to make a deal; it would be great if we could make one.”
The statement was soon met with a firm response from the Leader of the Islamic Revolution: “This is not a deal. ‘Let’s sit and talk, and the result will be this!’ — that is coercion.”
Trump speaks of negotiation, yet his four-year record in the White House demonstrates why his promises in international affairs are hard to trust. During his presidency, any global agreement that did not serve his short-term or personal interests was unilaterally revoked.
Trump’s Hand Is Revealed Before Ayatollah Khamenei
WANA (Oct 21) – Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s response to Donald Trump’s carefully orchestrated remarks about Iran appears to have carried a distinct and calculated impact. The Iranian leader usually avoids lengthy commentary about Trump and often ignores his statements altogether. Yet, at critical moments, just a few words from Khamenei have been enough to undermine […]
At least thirteen international treaties and agreements — ranging from environmental and security pacts to major economic accords — were abandoned by the U.S. government in that period. What was called a “review of previous agreements” was, in reality, a clear violation of commitments and disregard for international law. And this list includes only the well-known treaties; numerous smaller and technical arrangements were quietly discarded.
This pattern was not an individual anomaly, but part of a long-standing tradition in American foreign policy. From the earliest colonial treaties with Native tribes in the 18th century to the Versailles Treaty in the 20th, history shows a recurring pattern: a grand signature presented as cooperation and peace — followed by unilateral withdrawal. It is not an exception in Washington’s behavior; it is the rule.
Against such a background, Trump’s talk of a “deal with Iran” appears less as a genuine shift and more as a continuation of that same political and rhetorical pattern.
An anti-U.S. billboard is displayed on a building in Tehran, Iran November 6, 2024. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)
What he now calls a “deal” is, in fact, an attempt to re-impose the objectives that Washington failed to achieve through military means.
Today, the U.S. recognizes that it cannot impose an agreement on an independent and united Iran. Hence, it seeks to alter the narrative — to pursue familiar goals through a new discourse.
Back in 1979, the battle of narratives was between two phrases: “occupation of the embassy” versus “the takeover of the espionage den.” At that time, America could still shape its image through Western media outlets. Today, that monopoly has faded. Four decades on, the U.S. no longer wields the same control over global perception. From Washington to Minneapolis, from Gaza to Guantánamo, the American image now faces profound moral and political scrutiny.
Iranians burn a U.S. flag during the 45th anniversary of the U.S. expulsion from Iran, in Tehran, Iran November 3, 2024. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)
The world has changed. Media monopolies can no longer conceal the truth. As seen in the recent war, millions across East and West embraced Iran’s narrative of reality, and the discourse of resistance found resonance in public opinion worldwide.
From November 4, 1979 — the day young Iranians took over the U.S. embassy — to the twelve-day war of 2025, one reality has remained constant: Iran’s position in the regional and global arena stands firmer than ever, and its independent voice is now heard more clearly across the world.
