*urgent* read this excerpt from a description of the iran hostage crisis. "on november 4, 1979, iranian militants stormed the united states embassy in tehran and took approximately seventy americans captive. this terrorist act triggered the most profound crisis of the carter presidency and began a personal ordeal for jimmy carter and the american people that lasted 444 days.… president carter committed himself to the safe return of the hostages while protecting america’s interests and prestige. he pursued a policy of restraint that put a higher value on the lives of the hostages than on american retaliatory power or protecting his own political future.” – jimmy carter library & museum according to this excerpt, why did carter allow the hostage crisis to last so long? he was distracted by his reelection campaign. he needed to wait for the military to be ready to attack iran. he was focused on other events taking place around the world. he was trying to resolve the situation while maintaining the nation’s dignity.