US not surprised if Ahmedinejad was part of ’79 siege

It would not be a surprise to the United States if Iranian President-elect Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was involved in the 1979 siege of the US Emba...

It would not be a surprise to the United States if Iranian President-elect Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was involved in the 1979 siege of the US Embassy in Tehran, although no solid evidence has been found, the White House said on Friday.

Several Americans who were held hostage then, said they recognised Ahmadinejad as a ringleader. But two Iranians who were leading figures in the storming of the embassy said he did not take part.

‘‘We continue to look into it to establish the facts. I don’t think it should be surprising if it turns out to be true. This is a regime run by an unelected few that only allowed its handpicked candidates to run in an election well short of free and fair,’’ said White House spokesman Scott McClellan.

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The 48-year-old hardline Tehran Mayor was elected President in a landslide a week ago.

Involvement by the new Iranian leader in the 1979-1981 hostage crisis would send a chill through the US Government, which has not resumed diplomatic relations with Iran. Fifty-two Americans were held captive for 444 days during the siege. —Reuters

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