30 Years Later, Iran Hostages Still Seek Justice

Nov. 4, 2009 — -- It was 30 years ago today that a mob of Iranian students scaled the walls of the U.S. embassy in Tehran, took 52 Americans hostage and began a lengthy standoff that humbled the most powerful country on earth.

Three decades later, the one-time hostages are still mad. The hostages' memories of their captivity remain vivid and their contempt for their captors remains raw. But mostly they are mad at the U.S. government.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran disavowed international law and never apologized for anything they did," said Barry M. Rosen, 65, now a college administrator in New York City who was working as the embassy's press attache in 1979.

"But I'm angry at my own government. No provisions were made to compensate us hostages. We're still fighting for compensation. I say: 'Shame on you, American government. Shame on you, State Department,'" he said.

A series of administrations has blocked the former hostages' efforts to collect an apology or any financial retribution from the Islamic regime, which held them captive, often blindfolded, in dark cells and in isolation for 444 days. The former hostages object to the deal President Carter agreed to for their release, which they charge was tantamount to negotiating a ransom with terrorists.

The deal the Americans struck with Iran only emboldened the most militant members of the Iranian regime and the United States is still paying the price, former hostages claim. The virulently anti-American leaders unleashed a wave of Iranian-financed terror groups like Hezbollah and Hamas. The deal empowered the most extreme elements of their captors, who now run Iran and have even imprisoned some of their fellow hostage-takers, the former hostages say.

Iran, which was never forced to pay for violating international law with the embassy take-over, is again thumbing its nose at the world by pressing ahead on technology that could lead to a nuclear weapon, former hostages say.