Tehran, April 13, IRNA An Iranian politician said Irans proposed ambassador to the United Nations Hamid Abutalebi was not involved in the takeover of the US embassy in Tehran in 1979.He made the remarks in an interview with BBC Persian service.
Asgharzadeh was one of the leaders of the takeover of the US embassy in Tehran by a group of university students who called themselves Muslim Student Followers of the Imam?s Line.
In his interview, he told BBC that Abutalebi was basically not considered as a member of the group, adding, he did temporary translations for the group in a limited number of occasions including the Christmas celebrations led by American priests and sending invitations to liberation movements in other countries.
He noted that Abutalebi cooperated with the students in a temporary ground while other translators had a fixed job at the embassy.
The White House has declined to issue visas for Irans proposed UN ambassador Hamid Abutalebi.
Iran has made it clear that Abutalebi is the only option and stressed it is not going to replace him.
Tehran said the US behavior contradicts international regulations.
Asgharzadeh told BBC he believed Abutalebi has fallen victim of the propaganda war and taken hostage by an incident which happened 35 years ago.
He reiterated, ?The US embassy takeover was not a terrorist operation, but was a reaction to Washington?s interference in Iran?s domestic affairs.?
The takeover of the US embassy in Tehran during which a number of American diplomats were taken hostages for 444 days tarnished Iran-US relations since.
By IRNA
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