Iran accuses U.S. of not wanting to end hostage crisis

Press, 29 December 1980, Page 8

Iran accuses U.S. of not wanting to end hostage crisis

NZPA-Reuter Teheran The Iranian Prime Minister (Mr Mohammed Ali Rajai) has accused the United States of not wanting to solve the hostage issue at all. In a speech to a hastily convened meeting of the Teheran diplomatic corps and foreign journalists, he said: "This (United States) Government deceived all the people who were anxious for a solution to this problem,” he said.

Mr Rajai outlined two ways he said the United States could gain the freedom of the 52 captives, but said that the United States had chosen instead “to make conspiracies against us, to intervene in our affairs.”

Western diplomats said the speed with which Mr Rajai called the meeting and the fact that he invited the foreign press suggested that Iran wanted to accelerate the negotiations. Mr Rajai repeated the two requirements for gaining the hostages’ freedom. One. was that the United States could put up a guarantee to fultil Iran’s requirements, insofar as we can provide documents proving assets are ours.” The other was that it could pay the undisputed part of Iran’s claims, leaving the hostages in Iranian custody until the remainder was settled by arbitration. Iran’s majlis (Parliament) originally decreed that the United States must pledge not to interfere in Iranian affairs, drop all financial claims against Iran, and return frozen Iranian assets

and the late Shah’s wealth. Iran later sought $24 billion in financial guarantees from the United States before the hostages could be freed. Mr Rajai read out details of what he said was the Carter administration’s latest message about- the conditions, including an undextaking to return Iran’s financial position to that existing before November 14 last year when President Carter froze Iranian assets. The text he read also said the United States would cancel all claims against Iran and order a freeze on moneys and property belonging to the deposed Shah and his close relatives. Some of the 52 hostages were seen on television on Christmas Day in the United Sates delivering poignant and generally reassuring messages to relatives and friends. One of the men hostages said: “I get depressed at times but I’m doing fine.” Another told his fiancee: “I can hold on if you can kid.” The hostages shown on the film seemed in good physical condition, confirming the assessment of the Algerian Ambassador (Mr Asdelkarim Gheraieb) who met them for 12 hours to explain the stalemate in negotiations for their release.

One of the most moving moments came when Kathryn Koob, one of the two women still captive, asked her family, “Can you all sing with me?” before beginning to sing in a quavering voice “Be near me Lord Jesus” from the Christmas

carol, “Away in a Manger.” Miss Koob, who appeared on the verge of tears at one point, said: “I’m feeling good. I’ve lost weight, for which I am grateful.” In Washington, United States officials held nine hours of discussions with Algerian intermediaries yesterday to try to determine whether Iran is willing to compromise on its demands for freeing the- 52 American hostages. The meeting at the United States State Department ended with both sides refusing to talk to reporters. The two sides agreed to meet again today. The Algerians arrived for yesterday’s meeting with little hope that a settlement in the 420-day crisis was near.

Before the talks got under way, top Iranian officials were quoted in Teheran as saying Iran’s: demand for 24 billion in financial guarantees was not negotiable and that Iran .was prepared to hold the hostages indefinitely if the United States does not meet the conditions.

While flying to the United States the two envoys told A.B.C. television network news they bpiieved that both the United States and Iran had complicated the negotiations by talking too much and taking hard positions from which retreat would be difficult.

The A.B.C. report said the Algerians also were concerned that possible new policies by the incoming Reagan Administration could "undo months of painstaking work”.