On November 4, 1979, a day forever ingrained in my memory, Iranian militants, backed by the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini, took over the embassy, and I became one of 52 American hostages held at their mercy. (AP Photo)
In October, President Trump chose not to recertify the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, giving Congress 60 days to decide on the future of the agreement. As Congress weighs action and the administration consults with our European partners, policymakers must consider Iran’s history of holding Americans and dual-nationals hostage, including those held captive today. On the 38th anniversary of the Iran hostage crisis, it’s the least we can do.
In 2016, the Obama administration admitted that the nuclear deal and hostages run along “parallel tracks.” As a candidate, President Trump came to a similar conclusion, stating “We have four people over there, prisoners that they're keeping – hostages, whatever you want to call them – that's not part of the deal. Why isn't that part of the deal?”

I myself have lived through the harrowing reality that hostages in Iran face. I first visited Iran as a Peace Corps volunteer in the late 1960s and later returned to the country to work at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. On November 4, 1979, a day forever ingrained in my memory, Iranian militants, backed by the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, took over the embassy, and I became one of 52 American hostages held at their mercy. For 444 days, I faced the crippling anxiety of not knowing when I would next see my wife and children or if I would even live to see them again.