Iran released bodies of 8 killed in rescue attempt

May 6, 1980

Iran Monday released the bodies of eight Americans killed in the unsuccessful hostage rescue mission to a Greek Catholic archbishop, who said they would be flown Tuesday to Switzerland. The body transfer was seen as settlement of the dispute over their fate between Islamic moderates and hard-liners, who wanted to use the bodies to bargain for the return of the former shah of Iran, now in exile in Egypt.