SUMMARY

On November 4, 1979, Iranian militants stormed the American embassy in Tehran and captured dozens of American hostages, sparking a 444-day ordeal and a quake in global politics still reverberating today. But there is a little-known drama connected to the crisis. Six Americans escaped, and a top-level CIA officer named Antonio Mendez devised an ingenious yet incredibly risky plan to rescue them before they were detected.

Disguising himself as a Hollywood producer, and supported by a cast of expert forgers, deep cover CIA operatives, foreign agents, and Hollywood special effects artists, Mendez traveled to Tehran under the guise of scouting locations for a fake science fiction film called Argo. While pretending to find the perfect film backdrops, Mendez and a colleague succeeded in contacting the escapees, and smuggling them out of Iran.

Antonio Mendez finally details the extraordinarily complex and dangerous operation he led more than three decades ago. A riveting story of secret identities and international intrigue, Argo is the gripping account of the history-making collusion between Hollywood and high-stakes espionage.

To learn more about co-author, and New York Times bestselling author, Matt Baglio, please visit his website here.

Purchase from these fine retailers

REVIEWS

One of the most daring and courageous clandestine operations during my career involved efforts to rescue Americans taken hostage in Tehran after our embassy was seized on November 4, 1979. Six Americans managed to escape the U.S. compound and flee to the Canadian embassy, where they were hidden A very brave CIA officer, Tony Mendez, using commercial cover, entered Iran with false identities for the six and, using techniques that ought to remain secret so they can be used again, managed to get them out of Iran.

– Robert M. Gates, “From the Shadows,” former Director of Central Intelligence Agency, former U.S. Secretary of Defense

This is a fascinating story about how Tony Mendez and the CIA used a bit of technical expertise and a lot of daring and courage to rescue American hostages in Iran. Tony is emblematic of the extraordinary men and women of CIA. Most of their stories cannot be told – but fortunately, in Argo, Tony has been able to lift the veil of secrecy – just a bit.

George J. Tenet, Former Director of Central Intelligence

Argo describes tradecraft at its best, the previously unpublished story of the courageous exfiltration of six American diplomats who had evaded capture when the American embassy in Iran was seized November 4, 1979. The development of “cover” including use of physical disguises and forged passports and documents under the direction of Tony Mendez, one of CIA’s most respected officers, made their escape possible along with critical help from Canadian diplomats. This story is true and is a must read to understand how dangerous risks have been successfully managed by men and women like Tony Mendez operating in secrecy for our protection.

William H. Webster, former director, FBI and CIA

This true spy story has it all: guile, audacity, and bravery in a struggle with a fanatic and lethal enemy, a crucial role played by a loyal ally, and a marvelous conspiracy with Hollywood.

R. James Woolsey, Former Director of Central Intelligence

One of the most daring and courageous clandestine operations during my career involved efforts to rescue Americans taken hostage in Tehran after our embassy was seized on November 4, 1979. Six Americans managed to escape the U.S. compound and flee to the Canadian embassy, where they were hidden A very brave CIA officer, Tony Mendez, using commercial cover, entered Iran with false identities for the six and, using techniques that ought to remain secret so they can be used again, managed to get them out of Iran.

– Robert M. Gates, “From the Shadows,” former Director of Central Intelligence Agency, former U.S. Secretary of Defense