PRESIDENT RAFSANJAN1 IS TRYING TO CAPITALIZE ON INTERNATIONAL CONDENNATION OF IRAQ BY ENCOURAGING MOVEMENT TOWARD RESOLVING THE LEBANESE HOSTAGE SITUATION. ON SATURDAY, ACCORDING TO FRENCH PRESS REPORTS > THE PRO-RAFSANJaNI TEHRAN TIMES URGED THE WEST TO RESPOND TO THE RELEASE OF IRISH HOSTAGE BRIAN KEENAM BY PRESSING ISRAEL TO FREE SHAYKH OBEID AND OTHER ARAB PRISONERS BUT DID NOT REPEAT TEHRAN'S DEMAND FOR RELEASE OF FOUR IRANIANS IT CLAIMS ARE PRISONERS IN LEBANON.
COMMENT! RAFSANjAN I RECOGNIZES THAT THE GULF CRISIS HAS RAISED IRAN'S STOCK IN THE WEST AND PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM TO IMPROVE RELATIONS WITH THE WEST. THE REPORTED OMISSION BY THE TEHRAN TINES OF DEMANDS REGARDING THE ALLEGED IRANIAN HOSTAGES SUGGESTS RAFSANJANI IS PREPARED TO BE MORE FLEXIBLE, DESPITE CONTINUED CALLS BY IPN HARDLINERS FOP RELEASE OF THE IRANIANS. tTM|
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