Für deren Freilassung forderten sie die Auslieferung des gestürzten Schahs Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, der nach der Revolution in die USA geflohen war, die über Jahrzehnte das Patronat über sein Regime gewahrt hatten.
They were to be released in exchange for the overthrown Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who fled after the revolution to the USA, which had actually supported his regime for several decades.