is argo a true story

Argo’s central, nutty storyline—in which the CIA establishes a fake movie production, complete with a full script and ads in Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, in order to rescue six Americans stranded in post-revolutionary Iran—is 100 percent true, and pretty incredible.

What story is Argo based on?

Disguising himself as an Irish filmmaker, Mr. Mendez successfully smuggled six State Department employees out of Tehran during the 1979-1981 Iran hostage crisis, passing them off as a Canadian movie crew in a daring mission that formed the basis of the Oscar-winning movie “Argo” (2012).

When was Argo declassified?

But it was all done secretly, and the CIA role in the operation was not revealed until 1997. The 52 American hostages at the U.S. Embassy were held for 444 days and not released until January 1981. Mendez’s legacy extends well beyond his exploits in Iran.

What was inaccurate about the movie Argo?

The truth – which Argo artfully obscures – is that the cover story was never tested and in some ways proved irrelevant to the escape. There is a sequence in the film where the six go on a location scout in Tehran to create the impression they are movie people. According to Mark, the scene is total fiction.

Who is antonio Mendez?

Antonio Joseph Mendez (November 15, 1940 – January 19, 2019) was an American technical operations officer for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), who specialized in support of clandestine and covert CIA operations. He wrote four memoirs about his CIA experiences.

Was Argo filmed in Iran?

Although most of the movie takes place in Tehran, Iran, not a single minute of film was shot there. Other than location shoots in Istanbul, Turkey and Washington, D.C., the majority of Argo was filmed in Los Angeles.

Who was the real CIA agent in Argo?

Ex-CIA agent Tony Mendez, who inspired the Oscar-winning film Argo, has died at the age of 78. He had been suffering from Parkinson’s Disease. At the CIA, Mendez specialised in disguises, forgery and rescues.

How did the 6 American hostages get out of Iran?

Taylor contacted Flora MacDonald, Canadian Secretary of State for External Affairs, and Canadian Prime Minister Joe Clark for assistance. They expressed support for the sheltering effort. They decided to smuggle the six Americans out of Iran on an international flight by using Canadian passports for them.

What is Exfil CIA?

In military tactics, extraction (also exfiltration or exfil) is the process of removing personnel when it is considered imperative that they be immediately relocated out of a hostile environment and taken to an area either occupied or controlled by friendly personnel.

Who rescued the Iran hostages?

On April 11, 1980, President Jimmy Carter approved a military operation to rescue the remaining 52 American hostages from the hands of young revolutionaries who had seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in November 1979.

What happened to the 6 diplomats in Argo?

The group of six would remain guests of the Canadian diplomats for almost three months. On January 28, 1980 they were rescued in a CIA extraction operation, led by operative Tony Mendez, in which the group posed as a Canadian film production team scouting locations in Tehran.

How did the Iranian hostage crisis end?

How did the Iranian hostage crisis end? The Iranian hostage crisis ended after negotiations held throughout late 1980 and early 1981, with Algerian diplomats as middlemen throughout the process. The Iranian demands centered largely on releasing frozen Iranian assets and lifting the trade embargo.

Can Americans travel to Iran?

Americans can travel to Iran freely but they do need to know a few things about tours and visas before planning their trip. The relationship with Iran is strained due to many political and economic reasons but it is perfectly legal to travel to Iran as an American citizen.

Is Iran safe?

Do not travel to Iran due to the risk of kidnapping and the arbitrary arrest and detention of U.S. citizens. Country Summary: U.S. citizens visiting or residing in Iran have been kidnapped, arrested, and detained on spurious charges.

Why did the Iranian hostage crisis happen?

However, when the shah came to the U.S. for cancer treatment in October, the Ayatollah incited Iranian militants to attack the U.S. On November 4, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun and its employees taken captive. The hostage crisis had begun.