Iran May Pull Election Ploy: White House
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WASHINGTON — The White House said today that Iran may try to exploit the U.S. presidential race with some kind of surprise before the November election.
Presidential spokesman Marlin Fitzwater made the comment in response to a published report that said a National Security Council staff memo had warned that Iran may try to use the nine American hostages in Lebanon as political pawns.
Fitzwater said he would not confirm or deny the memo, but he added, “I think it’s safe to assume in a kind of common sense way that Iran is not above exploiting the elections in our country by some means.”
The report in the Wall Street Journal said the National Security Council memo suggested that Iran might offer to release some hostages before the elections if Vice President George Bush would soften the U.S. anti-Iran stance.
The story said an Iranian official had tried to arrange a clandestine meeting with a Bush aide, who was warned off the meeting by colleagues.
Fitzwater said he was not aware of any overture to Bush.
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