How CIA Agent Tony Mendez Pulled Off the Daring ‘Argo’ Rescue in Iran

On November 4, 1979, 66 Americans were taken hostage at the US Embassy in Tehran by Iranian revolutionaries fueled by anger over America’s support for the ousted ruler, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Adding to the tension, the US allowed the exiled Shah into America for medical treatment, further inflaming anti-American sentiment and leading to the embassy siege.

Amid the chaos, six Americans managed to escape through the embassy's back exit. They sought refuge with Canadian diplomats Robert Anders, John Sheardown, and Ambassador Kenneth Taylor, evading Iranian forces that were aggressively hunting for any American presence.

Enter Tony Mendez: The Man With a Plan

The CIA initially believed a rescue was impossible—until exfiltration expert Tony Mendez devised a bold and unconventional strategy. Disguising the fugitives as a Hollywood film crew scouting locations in Iran, Mendez used a fake sci-fi movie 'Argo' as a cover story, complete with production materials, media announcements, and forged documents.

Mendez personally flew into Tehran under an alias, coordinated with the Canadian government, and prepped the six Americans to adopt new identities under immense pressure.

Operation ‘Canadian Caper’: Fact That Inspired Hollywood

On January 27, 1980, after nearly three months of intense planning, delays, and mounting danger, Mendez and the six refugees successfully boarded a flight out of Iran. Their escape, coded as “Canadian Caper,” remains one of the CIA’s most daring covert missions.

The real-life rescue mission inspired the 2012 film Argo, directed by and starring Ben Affleck as Tony Mendez. The movie brought global attention to the behind-the-scenes heroes like Mendez, Hollywood makeup artist John Chambers (played by John Goodman), and Canadian Ambassador Kenneth Taylor (portrayed by Victor Garber).

While cinematic liberties were taken, the film authentically showcased the courage, resourcefulness, and international collaboration that turned a seemingly impossible extraction into a historic success.