Muskie says US accepted Iran's 4 points in principle

Secretary of State Edmund Muskie said the United States has accepted in principle the four conditions laid down for the release of the hostages in Iran, but a spokesman warned against expecting any imminent breakthrough in the year-long crisis. Asked specifically if the US accepts in principle the condition that the wealth of the late Shah must be returned to Iran, spokesman John Trattner repeated, "We have accepted in principle the four conditions. The secretary [Muskie] knew what he was saying."

Earlier, Mr. Muskie said Iran had not identified the clarifications it sought in the US response to conditions for release of the hostages.