Canadian Caper
The Canadian Caper refers to a covert operation that took place during the Iran hostage crisis in 1979, when a group of Iranian students took over the U.S. embassy in Tehran and held American diplomats hostage. Amidst this turmoil, six American diplomats managed to evade capture and sought refuge in the Canadian embassy, where they were hidden for nearly three months. Canadian Ambassador Ken Taylor played a crucial role in their protection, and upon informing the Canadian government, Prime Minister Joe Clark's administration facilitated their escape.
The operation involved collaboration between the Canadian and U.S. governments, with the CIA orchestrating a rescue plan that included the use of forged Canadian passports and a cover story about a fictional film production. On January 28, 1980, the six Americans successfully departed Iran without incident. This operation significantly impacted Canadian-American relations, earning Canada widespread acclaim and gratitude from the U.S. for its assistance. The events were celebrated in media, including a Canadian film, while the full extent of the CIA's involvement remained undisclosed until years later. The Canadian Caper is often remembered as a testament to international cooperation during a time of crisis.
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Canadian Caper
The Event Joint Canadian-CIA operation that led to the rescue of six U.S. diplomats from Iran
Date January 28, 1980
Place Tehran, Iran
Almost three months into the Iranian hostage crisis, the public learned that six members of the U.S. embassy’s staff had not been captured with the others, when a secret operation to bring them home succeeded.
On November 4, 1979, in the aftermath of the revolution that drove the shah of Iran from power, a group of Iranian students stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran and took a group of American diplomats hostage. The entire embassy staff, however, was not captured by the students. Six remained at large and ultimately sought refuge at the Canadian embassy. They were hidden for nearly three months in the residences of the Canadian embassy’s staff, including the home of Canada’s ambassador to Iran, Ken Taylor.
Taylor quickly contacted Prime MinisterJoe Clark with the news of the hidden American diplomats. Clark and his cabinet agreed with the ambassador’s decision to assist the Americans and assured President Jimmy Carter that Ottawa would help them leave Iran. The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) then designed and led an operation to extract the Americans from Iran, although afterward the escape plan was portrayed as a solely Canadian effort. The cooperation of the Canadian government was required, since it had to supply fraudulent Canadian passports in the names of the six Americans in hiding. The CIA provided forged Iranian visas and, under the leadership of one of its members, Antonio J. Mendez, designed a cover operation that involved a fictional movie company seeking to film in Iran. Mendez and another CIA agent flew to Tehran, while the phony passports were sent to Tehran in a Canadian diplomatic bag.
On January 28, 1980, the six Americans left Tehran on a commercial airline without incident. Fearing Iranian repercussions for their assistance, Canadian diplomats also left the country, and the Canadian embassy was closed. The story of the escape was quickly broken by a Canadian reporter. A tremendous response ensued in the United States, which hailed the Canadian government and citizens for their support. The acclaim took many forms, including billboards and posters thanking Canada hung from bridges. In particular, Canadian ambassador Ken Taylor was singled out for praise from the government of the United States. A Canadian movie was subsequently made celebrating the escape. The lead role played by the CIA in the operation remained a secret until 1997.
Impact
The Canadian role in the escape of the six American diplomats marked a particular high point in the relationship between Canadians and Americans. It also brought a modicum of relief to the Carter administration, which was under fire for its inability to rescue the fifty-three hostages then being held in the U.S. embassy.
Bibliography
Adams, Claude, and Jean Pelletier. The Canadian Caper. Toronto: Macmillan of Canada, 1981.
Bowden, Mark. Guests of the Ayatollah: The First Battle in America’s War with Militant Islam . New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, 2006.
Mendez, Antonio J., and Malcolm McConnell. The Master of Disguise: My Secret Life in the CIA. Toronto: HarperCollins Canada, 2000.