Iranian students agree to meet Waldheim, without hostage deal

January 2, 1980

Militant students agreed to meet with UN Secretary-General Kurt Walheim but indicated he was wasting his time if he expected to negotiate release of the American hostages. The militants' about-face, apparently prompted by Iran's official acceptance of the visit as a "fact finding" mission, came shortly before Mr. Waldheim's departure for a scheduled New Year's Day arrival in Tehran.