CIA's Daring 'Argo' Rescue: How a Fake Movie Saved 6 Americans in Tehran

• 46 years ago, six American diplomats were held hostage in Tehran amidst anti-American sentiment and the storming of the US Embassy.
• CIA 'exfiltration' expert Tony Mendez devised a daring plan to rescue them by disguising them as a Canadian film crew scouting locations for a fake sci-fi movie called 'Argo'.
• Hollywood makeup artist John Chambers helped create a believable cover, including a production office, film advertisements, and fake passports.
• The six Americans, including Robert Anders and the Lijek and Stafford couples, were trained to convincingly portray film crew members.
• On January 27, 1980, they successfully escaped Tehran, a mission kept secret for years until the 2012 Ben Affleck film 'Argo' revealed the true story.

Key Question Answered

Could a similar CIA rescue operation happen today?

Yes, a similar CIA rescue operation could happen today, as evidenced by the recent rescue of an F-15E pilot from Iran.