There, Ahmed was deliriously borne aloft and hoisted bodily over the gates. He was led on a tour of “the great nest of U.S. espionage,” paraded before the subdued, blindfolded Americans, and shown seized documents and electronics equipment. He returned with a glowing report. Which was apparently what persuaded the Ayatollah to go on the radio to endorse the captors and announce that Iran should build “a Great Wall of China between itself and the United States,” and all citizens should do “whatever is necessary” to force the shah’s return.
