What international incident led to prolonged hostages in Iran during Jimmy Carter's presidency?

The Iran hostage crisis is the international incident that led to prolonged hostages in Iran during Jimmy Carter's presidency. This crisis began on November 4, 1979, when Iranian students stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and took 52 American diplomats and citizens hostage. The students were motivated by anger over U.S. support for the deposed Iranian Shah, who had been granted asylum in the U.S. for medical treatment.

The event lasted for 444 days and became a significant point of contention in U.S.-Iran relations, as well as a major political crisis for President Carter. The inability to resolve the situation and the failed rescue attempt in April 1980 contributed to Carter's low approval ratings and ultimately affected the outcome of the 1980 presidential election.

In contrast, the other events listed—such as the Cuban missile crisis, the Vietnam War, and the Gulf War—are significant historical occurrences, but they do not relate directly to the prolonged hostage situation in Iran during Carter's presidency. Each of those events had its own context and implications in U.S. history but did not involve the specific circumstances of American citizens being held captive by Iranian militants.