TEHRAN--Militants holding the U.S. Embassy in Tehran yesterday refused a new bid for a meeting between the U.N. commission on Iran and the American hostages.
The militants said they were awaiting confirmation of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's approval for such a meeting.
The Tehran newspaper Azadeghan yesterday quoted Foreign Minister Sadegh Ghotbzadeh as saying "communists and Zionists" were trying to foil the U.N. mission.
Iranian President Abolhassen Bani-Sadr said Tuesday Khomeini had given him and the Revolutionary Council, which he heads, jurisdiction over the possible meeting. Bani-Sadr added that he and the council had decided the meeting should take place.
A spokesman for the militants said yesterday, "Our position has not changed. We will not let the meeting take place."
Carter spokesmen said recently the administration wants the five U.N. commissioners--international lawyers and diplomats--to visit the hostages to determine their condition and ensure that all are still in the embassy.
Militant spokesmen said recently that such a visit would be turned to America's propaganda advantage.
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