2 U.S. Hostages Threatened if Iran Is Attacked
Pro-Iranian extremists said Sunday that they would kill two American hostages and might attack targets inside the United States if U.S. warships in the Persian Gulf launched new attacks on Iran.
The statement came hours after an Iranian gunboat attacked a Saudi Arabian tanker in the gulf despite a warning by President Reagan that Iran faces “very costly” consequences if it continues hitting neutral ships and refuses to end its war with Iraq.
The extremists made their latest threat in a handwritten statement signed by the Revolutionary Justice Organization, a Shia Muslim group, and delivered to the Associated Press and the French news agency Agence France-Presse.
The group holds Joseph J. Cicippio, 57, of Valley Forge, Pa., and Edward A. Tracy, 57, of Rutland, Vt.
“Any new (U.S.) aggression under any pretext or excuse will lead to the execution of spy Edward Tracy first and Cicippio secondly,” the statement announced.
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