Algiers Accords

The Algiers Accords were a set of agreements between the United States and Iran to resolve the Iran hostage crisis, brokered by the Algerian government and signed in Algiers on January 19, 1981.^[1] The crisis arose from the takeover of the American embassy in Tehran on November 4, 1979, and the taking hostage of the American staff there. By this accord the 52 American citizens were set free and able to leave Iran.

Among its chief provisions are:^[2]

1. The US would not intervene politically or militarily in Iranian internal affairs;
2. The US would remove a freeze on Iranian assets and trade sanctions on Iran;
3. Both countries would end litigation between their respective governments and citizens, referring them instead to international arbitration, namely to the Iran–United States Claims Tribunal, created as a result of the agreement;
4. The US would ensure that US court decisions regarding the transfer of any property of the former Shah would be independent from "sovereign immunity principles" and would be enforced;
5. Iranian debts to US institutions would be paid.

The US chief negotiator was Deputy Secretary of State Warren Christopher,^[1] while the chief Algerian mediator was the Algerian Foreign Affairs Minister Mohammed Benyahia.^[3]

Notes

1. Barnes, Bart (19 March 2011). "Former secretary of state Warren Christopher dies at 85". Washington Post. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
2. Per the full text of the Accords found in the file in the References section
3. Carter, Jimmy (Oct 18, 1982). "The Final Day". Time magazine. Retrieved 10 May 2011.

References

• Full text of the declaration about the accords

External links

• Iran – United States Claims Tribunal