 The hostage @-@ takers and their cause were largely forgotten after the Iran – Iraq War broke out later that year and the hostage crisis in Tehran continued until January 1981 . Nonetheless , the operation brought the SAS to the public eye for the first time and bolstered the reputation of Margaret Thatcher , the Prime Minister . The SAS was quickly overwhelmed by the number of applications it received from people inspired by the operation and , at the same time , experienced greater demand for its expertise from foreign governments . The building , having suffered major damage from a fire that broke out during the assault , was not reopened as the Iranian embassy until 1993 . 
