REPORTER'S RELEASE HINTED AS MIDEAST TENSION RISES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00965R000705990008-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 13, 2011
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: February 4, 1987
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

ST Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/12/13: CIA-RDP90-00965R000705990008-7
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR
4 February 1987
Reporter's release hinted
as Mideast tension rises
A high-level source in the Iranian
said es ay that Iran would Un-
free American re-
porter
repofF, from the Tehran cor-
respondent of the South-North
News Service, comes as a small sign
of hope amid growing tensions
throughout the Middle East.
United States naval forces
mounted a show of strength in the
region Tuesday amid continuing ter-
rorist threats against American and
other foreign hostages in Lebanon.
Meanwhile, concern continued to
mount over the safety of Anglican
envoy lbrry Waite, who has been
missing since Jan. 20.
In Tehran, officials told the
South-North News Service that Mr.
Seib, a correspondent for the Wall
Street Journal, would be released to
the Swiss Embassy. The officials
gave no immediate explanation for
the alleged decision to free the
American reporter.
Seib's release would represent a
sudden revs s
ece Ministry Only on aY a
source ere said Seib had ved
like a spy rather than a Journalist
during his 10 days in Iran and had
gathered Tintellgenee to `gelation
too sensitive to be let out of the
court y. Yesterday, Tehran Radio
.
said that Seib was being held as a
spy of the Zionist regime [i.e., Is-
rael]." Iran's Islamic Republic News
Agency had said during the weekend
that a "spy of the Zionist regime"
was arrested after entering the
country with a false passport and
disguised as a journalist. It did not
identify the person by name or
nationality.
In Washington, White House
spokesman Marlin Fitzwater said
Tuesday that Iranian authorities
had refused to allow Swiss diplo-
mats to see Seib under detention in
lbhran. The Swiss mission in lbhran
represents American interests in
Iran. Mr. Fitzwater told reporters,
"We don't know anyone who has
talked to him or seen him."
An official from the Journal said
yesterday his paper was trying to
work through Iranian and other dip-
lomatic channels to gain Seib's re-
lease. Journal chairman Warren
Phillips called Seib's detention a
"dreadful mistake" and said he had
been seized "without any cause at
all." There has also been speculation
that Seib's seizure was part of a
power struggle in 'Ibhran.
In Thhran the Intel ' ence Minis-
try source, quoted by the MbiR~f
South-North News Service - which
reports on third world evelo meets
- sai'~~esterd-av es an
misunderstar`
ra~ein 1 i Setpe-nton
'[disc-using the alleged decision,
the source said that "the humble
approach of the White House, the
State Department, and officials of
the Wall Street Journal were unprec-
edented and paved the way for Mr.
Seib's release."
Some Iranian political sources say
they believe freeing the correspond-
ent may encourage the US to take
steps toward normalizing relations
with Iran.
If Seib were to be released uncon-
ditionally, it would no doubt be a
welcome relief to Washington,
which in recent months has ap-
s Americans. bargain
September, of
porter Nicholas Daniloff was re-
leased from detention in Moscow
after the US freed an accused Soviet
spy. In November, it was revealed
that the US was delivering arms to
Iran in part to secure the release of
Americans held in Lebanon.
The ministry source denied that
Seib's arrest had any connection
with problems existing between Iran
and the US. He mentioned particu-
larly Iran's demands for freeing as-
sets of about $8 billion frozen by the
US and its hopes for getting addi-
tional US weapons.
Meanwhile, in Lebanon, a Muslim
political source told Reuters news
agency that Mr Waite was being
held in west Beirut, contrary to some
media reports that he had been
moved to the Syrian-controlled
Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon.
"All the information indicates he is
still held in west Beirut and has not
been moved out," the source said.
On Monday, radical pro-Iranian
Shiite leader Hussein Musawi denied
reports that Waite had been taken to
the valley Mr. Musawi challenged
the US over its moves in the Mediter-
ranean. He defied the US to send
men to Lebanon to "have face-to-
face combat with our Muslim fight-
ers" and said the US would pay
dearly for any military attack.
The Muslim kidnappers of three
Americans and an Indian taken hos-
tage Jan. 24 reportedly said they
moved the captives out of Beirut
because they believe the US plans to
attack Lebanon in a bid to free hos-
tages. On 'Mresday the kidnappers,
and Muslim leaders in Lebanon,
warned that any US military action
would mean death for the captives.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/12/13: CIA-RDP90-00965R000705990008-7