Khomeini Moves to Aid Hostages, Report Says

Iran’s Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini has appointed a top-level committee to supervise dealings for the release of foreign hostages held in Lebanon, Ash-Shiraa magazine says.

“Negotiations with Iran about the foreign hostages in Lebanon would only be conducted through an official Iranian committee formed on instructions from Khomeini,” the Lebanese magazine said.

The committee consists of Iranian President Ali Khamenei, Parliament Speaker Hashemi Rafsanjani, Khomeini’s son Ahmad, Revolutionary Guards commander Mohsen Reda and Guards Minister Rafiq-Doust, the report said.

Eight Americans Missing

Twenty-four foreigners, including eight Americans, are missing in Lebanon after being kidnaped in the last two years.

Hassan Sabra, Ash-Shiraa’s editor, issued an advance copy of the report, which is to be published in Saturday’s edition. Sabra said that he obtained information about the committee from “the same sources that disclosed to me the American weapon deliveries to Iran.”

Ash-Shiraa, who has close ties with Iran, was the first to report the secret U.S. arms sales to Iran in an effort to free American hostages last November.

“The hostages have become chickens who lay golden eggs for Iran,” Sabra said.

The magazine said the committee believes “a settlement to the hostages” issue can be achieved only if the United States delivered to Iran weapons that had been purchased and paid for by the (late) Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi.”

Sabra said that Iran also wants the United States to release Iranian assets frozen in American banks since 52 Americans were held hostage in Tehran from November, 1979, to January, 1981.

The United States has paid Iran $451 million of an estimated $3.6 billion in frozen assets, as ordered by a U.S.-Iranian tribunal in The Hague. The transfer of the funds was completed last month.

French Gave $330 Million

The French, who also have nationals held hostage, handed over $330 million to Iran last November in partial payment of a $1-billion loan made by the shah in 1975.