Iran Backs Mediation for Freeing Hezbollah Guerrillas in IsraelIran supports any mediation efforts for the release of Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas jailed in Israel, an Iranian official said Monday.Since Iran "supports Hezbollah and Israel is holding many Hezbollah members, Iran, of course, backs and encourages any mediation efforts for the release of the detainees, the official of Iran's delegation at the ninth summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference told Xinhua. Iran made a secret deal in 1996 with Israel, through German mediation, on the swap of Israelis captured by Hezbollah for fighters of the resistance group, which fought for more than a decade to drive the Israeli occupation troops out of Lebanon until their withdrawal last May. During his recent visit to Israel, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder reportedly offered mediation help for the release of three Israeli soldiers captured on the border by Hezbollah October 7 to show solidarity with the Palestinians against Israeli suppression. Israel has asked the international community, including the United Nations, to help secure the release of the soldiers. Hezbollah, on the other hand, demanded a swap of the captives for Lebanese held in Israeli prisons. The UN has recently called on Iran to exert its influence on Hezbollah to persuade the group into freeing the Israeli soldiers. But Iranian President Mohammad Khatami has rejected the demand, saying that Hezbollah is an independent group out of Tehran's control. |
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