Imam Khomeini stated about the issue:

The fact was that the Islamic Republic of Iran was a threatening factor for American interests for which America had tried a lot. Therefore; Iran turned out to be the top story of the day, it also served as a fascinating center for American foreign policy and at the same time as the most complex problem of that era. Consequently; this process not only still continue to exist in different dimensions, but also has been intensified in the passage of time for achieving American vicious political and economic aims, so that she could defeat the Islamic Republic of Iran. The economic sanction was no longer an effective tool. There have also been various ways for breaking these sanctions. There were so many contradictions in the world of capitalism and socialism from which the Islamic Republic of Iran could take the advantage and hence, wipe out all of the traces of such all-out sanction. However; the Imperialists’ interests which were closely involved with those of the Middle East and Iran served as the hindering factor against Iran. Among the Third World countries, there were some reliable friends of the Islamic Republic of Iran who could meet Iran’s needs. As a concrete example of lacking of any coordination in the West on Iran’s economic sanction, one could refer to vote of no confidence of the Japanese Senate on the cabinet. Japan is among the countries, which cannot survive without oil and the trading markets of Iran and the Middle East. Although Carter’s pressure (American then-president) imposed upon the Japanese leaders, forced them to obey the American policy, the Japanese Senate could not surrender and issued a vote of not confidence anyhow.

Another example would be Britain’s separation from the group consisting of the European countries who agreed on the sanction. Due to the economic problems could not participate in this sanction. For, if so, some of the British workers would lose their jobs, the fact that could lead to higher level of Britain’s inflation. Although the Conservative Faction headed by Margaret Thatcher agreed with this, but the British Labor Party did not. Therefore; in spite of British agreement on the meeting of the Common Market countries, after passing some days this sanction was cancelled. Furthermore; France did not show much interest in the sanction, either. In Germany there was a hubbub of slighting Iran, though the fact was that those threats could not last for a long time. Germany’s oil reserves could only last for 116 days. Therefore; if Iran along with Algeria and Libya followed a common policy in OPEC so that Germany would be the last station of the oil track, and this country could not survive either. In another words, Iran’s economic sanction activated by the Western countries could lead to inflection and shaky economic situation in those countries.

To sum up the foregoing discussion, as the situation suggested, the economic sanction could not make Iran relinquishing her right requests. What the United States of America tried to keep out of the sight of the World was the main reason behind hostage taking.

The United States of America was trying to mobilize the public opinion against Iran’s hostage- taking measure so that the people of the world would condemn Iran’s action.

It is interesting to know that the countries enjoying the membership of the Warsaw Pact which were gathered together, while supporting Iran’s requests, stressed the diplomats’ immunity and safe diplomatic ties and making hints that condemned the Hostage- taking measure of Iran. This showed that Iran’s real and right requests were not understandable for the East Block Countries. Finally in January 1981, the American hostages were released.