RAFSANJANI ON RELEASE OF HOSTAGES

UNCLAS BEIRUT 06115



TERREP



E.O. 12356: N/A

TAGS: PTER, IR, LE

SUBJ: RAFSANJANI ON RELEASE OF HOSTAGES



1. NOVEMBER 5 EDITION OF AL-SAFIR (LEFTIST) QUOTES

RAFSANJANI, IN HIS STATEMENTS ABOUT ALLEGED MCFARLANE

VISIT, AS SAYING:



-- "WE WILL ADVISE THE GROUPS IN LEBANON LOYAL TO IRAN

TO RELEASE THE AMERICAN ANDIFRENCH HOSTAGES IF LEBANESE

PRISONERS IN ISRAEL ARE FREED AND WASHINGTON AND PARIS

STOP THEIR USELESS HOSTILE ACTIONS AGAINST US. IF THE

DEMANDS OF THE OPPRESSED MUSLIMS IN LEBANON ARE MET AND

IF YOU PROVE THAT YOU WILL NOT BE HOSTILE, OR BEHAVE

ANTAGONISTICALLY, WE WILL INFORM OUR FRIENDS IN LEBANON

ABOUT OUR OPINIONS, FROM A HUMANITARIAN VIEW. THE FATE

OF SOME OF THE HOSTAGES IS IN THE HANDS OF ISLAMIC GROUPS

AND SOME OF THE ISLAMIC FORCES DO LISTEN TO US...IF IRAN

SHOULD CALL FOR THE RELEASE OF THE HOSTAGES, OUR FRIENDS

IN LEBANON ARE FREE TO RESPOND OR NOT. THEY LISTEN TO

US SOMETIMES."



2. COMMENT: ABOVE STATEMENT APPEARS AT CONCLUSION OF

RAFSANJANI'S REPOMED REMARKS. END COMMENT.



KELLY