 The hostage @-@ takers were members of the Democratic Revolutionary Front for the Liberation of <unk> ( DRFLA ) — Iranian Arabs protesting for the establishment of an autonomous Arab state in the southern region of the Iranian province of Khūzestān ( also known as <unk> ) which is home to an Arabic @-@ speaking minority . The oil @-@ rich area had become the source of much of Iran 's wealth , having been developed by multi @-@ national companies during the reign of the Shah . 
