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The article argues against a military action against Iran following the hostage taking of U.S. embassy officials by the followers of Ayatollah Khomeini. The administration of President Jimmy Carter must handle the situation through talking, negotiation, delaying and reasoning. A military raid would only result in the deaths of more U.S. hostages and service members. The involvement of the Palestine Liberation Organization as a negotiator should not be construed as a humanitarian action because the organization is involved in terroristic activities.

Focuses on the political conditions in Iran. Information on a seminar convened by the International Security Council of eighteen former Iranian ministers of state and distinguished American and Iranian scholars, held in Washington D.C.; Election of Hashemi Rafsanjani as President of Iran after the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini; Lack of the U.S. involvement and influence in the country; Observation that Soviet policies and actions toward the Middle Eastern states have become increasingly sophisticated and multidimensional and only serve to strengthen Moscow's attempts to influence Iran; Estimation of the cost of post-war reconstruction of Iran; Statement that power in Iran has customarily been shared between religious and secular leaders, operating in balance with Armed Forces.