On November 4, 1979, Iranian students overran guards to take over the US embassy in Tehran, starting a 444-day hostage crisis.

The students, with the support of the new hardline regime ruling Iran, seized 66 American diplomats in a move that stunned the world and left the US government powerless.

But unknown to the hostage takers, six US diplomatic officers had fled through the embassy's back door as the revolutionary students smashed their way in.

They found refuge in the home of the Canadian ambassador in Tehran, but they were at risk of being discovered, either by Iranian authorities or the international media.

The then US president Jimmy Carter and his advisers realised they had to get them out of the chaotic country, and turned to the CIA.

The spy agency put Tony Mendez, an offi

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