American Embassy in Tehran fights
- Thread starter Aphrodite
- Start date
I would imagine they get overrun by the crowd, possibly before they even run out of ammunition.
What if the large number of Iranians killed gets the crowd's blood up and they kill everyone in retribution?
Does the slaughter of the Embassy residents following a bloody battle lead to an American declaration of War?
An actual declaration. Like in World War II.
What if the U.S. Congress passes a declaration. Carter reluctantly seeing the writing on the wall signs it and then goes on to win the election in 1980 as the President who showed them troublemakers the old what for?
Does Reza Pahlavi take over a reinstated monarchy?
Does America try to install a friendly democracy?
Does Iran become the country's next Vietnam?
Do the Russians still invade Afghanistan? What happens with the world's two super powers fighting wars right next to each other?
Does the slaughter of the Embassy residents following a bloody battle lead to an American declaration of War?
An actual declaration. Like in World War II.
What if the U.S. Congress passes a declaration. Carter reluctantly seeing the writing on the wall signs it and then goes on to win the election in 1980 as the President who showed them troublemakers the old what for?
Does Reza Pahlavi take over a reinstated monarchy?
Does America try to install a friendly democracy?
Does Iran become the country's next Vietnam?
Do the Russians still invade Afghanistan? What happens with the world's two super powers fighting wars right next to each other?
Perhaps regular forces (whatever it means in that context) would intervene before a bloodbath.
Otherwise even someone like Carter would be forced to intervene in a way or another.
Otherwise even someone like Carter would be forced to intervene in a way or another.
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Probably not. With most crowds, it doesn't take much to send them running. A round over their heads would send most on their way. A round into the crowd would definitely send most of rest running. People do like to live
I'm not sure how the Iranians would react. Khomenie initially wanted to clear out the demonstrators but changed his mind when he found out how popular the idea was
I think it likely that the demonstrators flee in panic with about 50 dead and wounded. a couple of hundred at most
But what effect does that have on American-Iranian relations?
The Americans would quickly forget the episode. Not sure about the Iranians but anti-American Iranians already had enough reasons to hate America
If it doesn't lead to the iranians breaking off relations, do ties between the two countries return to somewhat normal? economically Iran was pretty tied to the West despite how much they hated America
If the demonstrators ran away, I suppose someone more determined than them would come later, especially if there are casualties.
Much of the long-term consequences depend on what Khomeini would decide to do inbetween.
longsword14
Banned
Or somebody somewhere sends heavier things to smash down the gate.
More violence than OTL would have meant a screwed Iran.
Ak-84
Banned
Most of you are looking at it with knowledge of OTL events.
Let’s face it, if US marines gun down dozens of Iranian civilians, it’s going to be a diplomatic shitshow. The likes of which the US has never seen before. In OTL, pre embassy hostage taking, the sympathies of the world except for the white nations were with the Iranians revolutionaries. Now this is going to turbocharge that. When soldiers gun down unarmed civilians, people’s symphathies are always with the later. Which will be the case here. And American protestations that the embassy was about to be overrun will be disbelieved and seen as victim blaming. As will claims that the Iranian Gov was behind an attempted take over, since well they were not.
Let’s face it, if US marines gun down dozens of Iranian civilians, it’s going to be a diplomatic shitshow. The likes of which the US has never seen before. In OTL, pre embassy hostage taking, the sympathies of the world except for the white nations were with the Iranians revolutionaries. Now this is going to turbocharge that. When soldiers gun down unarmed civilians, people’s symphathies are always with the later. Which will be the case here. And American protestations that the embassy was about to be overrun will be disbelieved and seen as victim blaming. As will claims that the Iranian Gov was behind an attempted take over, since well they were not.
nbcman
Donor
It is the host country's responsibility to provide security to embassies from the Vienna Conventions as well as the Protection of Diplomats Convention (Iran was a signatory in 1978). The Marine Detachment isn't there to prevent attacks on the embassy grounds; they are there to protect classified information that is at the embassy. And how much could a detachment of 13 Marines with pistols, some shotguns and CS (tear gas) do against a mob of over 3000 when the Iranian Government didn't take action to protect the embassy? The Marines were not suicidal and followed their orders.
Does everyone realize that there were multiple attempts to seize the US Embassy in 1979? There even was another successful takeover that occurred in February which only lasted a few hours which the Iranian Government did intercede in. The US Embassy staff expected that the Iranian Government would do the same in November.
Does everyone realize that there were multiple attempts to seize the US Embassy in 1979? There even was another successful takeover that occurred in February which only lasted a few hours which the Iranian Government did intercede in. The US Embassy staff expected that the Iranian Government would do the same in November.
Ak-84
Banned
The Iranian government expected to do the same in November. It was only after they saw how politically popular it was, that they changed their minds.
Marines with shotguns and pistols firing into a densely packed crowd would cause dozens of casulties. The M1911 .45 packed quite a punch.
Here is a description of the Feb 1979 takeovers (written after the November takeover). Unlike November, in Febuary there was actual gunfire involved.
Marines with shotguns and pistols firing into a densely packed crowd would cause dozens of casulties. The M1911 .45 packed quite a punch.
Here is a description of the Feb 1979 takeovers (written after the November takeover). Unlike November, in Febuary there was actual gunfire involved.
Edward IX
Banned
I joined the Marines in 1990. I served with a Gunnery Sargent that had been a embassy guard in Iran. I have since confirmed that part of his story as far as being there. Anyway according to him they did fire rounds and the crowd overran them and did not hurt them in order to take them alive and unhurt.
Now, like I said I know for sure he was there. The part about firing, I don't know about at 18 I was suspicious. I am not sure to this day what I believe. I myself applied for Embassy Duty. I was accepted, but I did not do it as it would have required another 6 year enlistment. I did the initial work, what I was told was we were under direct command of the Ambassador, who reported to the Secretary of State who reported to the POTUS. My point being I don't Carter would have been Okay with that. So take my story for what it is. I am not offended if you think it's BS, I am just passing on a story.