In its strongest statement so far, the White House said on Thursday that Iran's president-elect was a leader of the student movement that organized the 1979 takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran.
But the United States has not yet determined whether Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was involved in the taking of hostages, a White House national security council spokesman said.
The White House has been checking on assertions by former American hostages that Ahmadinejad was involved in the siege on the U.S. embassy.
"We have looked into the allegations concerning Iranian president-elect Ahmadinejad's involvement in the 1979 hostage crisis," the spokesman said.
"Mr. Ahmadinejad was a leader of the student movement that organized the attack on the embassy and the taking of American hostages," he said. "However, we are still investigating whether or not he was explicitly one of the hostage-takers."
Several Americans who were held during the 444-day 1979-81 hostage crisis have said they recognized Ahmadinejad as a ringleader.
Ahmadinejad has denied he was involved in storming the U.S. embassy in Tehran, denials which are supported by leading hostage-takers. |