Author: Associated Press
Date: Friday, June 13, 1980
Page: ?????
Section: RUN OF PAPER
WOODS HOLE, Mass. - George Wald, a Nobel Prize-winning biologist who went
to Iran with Ramsey Clark, says he thinks the American hostages will be
released next month.
"I feel quite optimistic the hostages are going to come home in early
July," Wald told nine graduating seniors, their families and friends at
commencement cermonies at Omnibus School on Wednesday night. "I think that's
the way it's going to be."
Wald, 73, a retired Harvard professor, was one of nine Americans who
accompanied former Attorney General Clark to a conference on alleged US crimes
against Iran, where 53 Americans have been held hostage since November.
Wald said his optimism stemmed from talks with Iranian Foreign Minister
Sadegh Ghotzbadeh, President Abolhassan Bani-Sadr and other officials.
"All those responsible people are telling us it was wrong to take those
hostages, but (that they) know that. But it made a great contribution to their
self-respect in taking back their country," he said.
Wald said the Americans and other delegates to a meeting in Iran had a 40-
minute meeting with Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini at his home.
"You've never seen a calmer person," he said. "He talked to us for 40
minutes, his voice growing stronger. He was not growing excited. He was
teaching."
As for charges he shouldn't have gone to Iran, Wald said: "An American can
go anywhere he wants and his passport cannot be withheld."
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