Three of our hostages in Tehran have been released and have left Iran. After a brief period of rest and care, they will be reunited with their families here in the United States.
The remaining hostages must also be released. Their detention is without justification. The Government of Iran is responsible for achieving their immediate and safe release, and the United States has the right to expect that Iran will do so.
The specter has been raised of other American diplomatic hostages being placed on trial. Such a step would be a further flagrant violation of elementary human rights, religious precepts, and international law and practice. Worldwide outrage at the detention of the hostages would be greatly heightened by any attempt to put these diplomatic personnel on trial.
Note: On November 18, three persons were released from the American Embassy and flown to the U.S. Air Force hospital in Wiesbaden, Federal Republic of Germany. On the following day, the Iranian captors released 10 more persons, who joined their colleagues in Wiesbaden before they all were returned to the United States.
Jimmy Carter, American Hostages in Iran White House Statement. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/249041