Skip to main content
Back to Show
PBS News Hour

Why it took 36 years to compensate Iran hostage victims

In 1979, the U.S. Embassy in Tehran was overrun by militant Iranian students who took 53 people captive for 444 days. The ordeal left a long-lasting toll and no chance of Iranian compensation. Now Congress has changed that under the new massive spending legislation: Survivors or their families will get up to $4.4 million each. Gwen Ifill learns more from David Herszenhorn of The New York Times.

Support Provided By
Season
March 31, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
March 31, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
March 30, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
March 30, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
March 27, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
March 27, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
March 26, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
March 26, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
March 25, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
March 25, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
March 24, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
March 24, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
March 23, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
March 23, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
March 20, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
March 20, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
March 19, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
March 19, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
March 18, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
March 18, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
March 17, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
March 17, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
March 16, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
56:44
March 16, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
Active loading indicator