State Dept. Says ‘No Deal’ to Iran Hostage Swap Offer

The State Department today rejected an Iranian offer to trade Western hostages in Lebanon for Shia Muslim prisoners held in Israel and Kuwait.

The offer was put forward by Iranian Parliament Speaker Hashemi Rafsanjani in an NBC News interview broadcast today.

State Department spokeswoman Phyllis Oakley said, “Our response to Mr. Rafsanjani is: no deal.”

Rafsanjani, one of the most powerful figures in Iran’s Islamic fundamentalist regime, denied that Tehran exerts direct control over the Lebanese extremist groups believed to be holding 24 Western hostages, including eight Americans.

Calls Trade Possible

But in the interview, conducted Wednesday after American hostage Charles Glass gained his freedom, Rafsanjani told NBC foreign editor Henry Champ that a trade was possible.

“We have some influence on certain groups in that country, Lebanon, but we never interfere in what they do,” Rafsanjani said.

He confirmed in the interview that he proposed a trade in which the United States would pressure Israel or Kuwait to release Shia prisoners, and suggested it might help as well if U.S. officials released military equipment purchased under the shah but denied to the current Tehran regime.

Oakley said her flat statement of “no deal” meant no release of military equipment that Iran is seeking, no pressure on Israel to release prisoners, no pressure on Kuwait to release prisoners.

No Concessions to Terrorists

She said U.S. policy remains not to make concessions to terrorists or ask other countries to do so. “Making concessions only encourages additional acts of terrorism.”

An Israeli army spokesman said today that anyone interested in securing the release of foreign hostages in exchange for Shia prisoners held by Israel should enter into negotiations with Israel.

“In principle, the Israeli army is interested that hostages be freed and this problem resolved. Those wishing to talk about that in a serious manner know they should talk to Israel,” the spokesman said.

In the NBC interview, Champ asked Rafsanjani if Iranian influence could be brought to bear on the groups to free other hostages.

‘Why Should We?’

“Why should we do it when you have hostile attitudes toward us, and you also are helping our enemy and you have such a naval buildup in the Persian Gulf?” he responded. “Why should we help you and try to solve your problem?”

He suggested that the United States should “set pressure on Israel to release those Lebanese they have taken hostage,” referring to Shia security suspects captured by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.

He also mentioned Shia prisoners in Kuwait, an evident reference to 17 men imprisoned for a series of bomb attacks there in 1983.

Rafsanjani pointed out that prisoners held by Israel were released in 1985 in a trade for passengers taken hostage on a TWA flight hijacked to Beirut, and asked, “Why don’t you repeat (the trade) now?”