Inquiry on Shah's record seen as key for hostages

Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim said Monday that an international inquiry into alleged violations by the Shah's Iranian regime might pave the way for release of the American hostages in Tehran. Reportng to the Security Council on his three-day mission to Iran last week, he said Foreign Minister Sadeq Ghotbzadeh informed him that freedom for the Americans held captive by Islamic students "would be one of the Consequences of this procedure."

The Security Council had set a deadline of Monday for the freeing of the Americans and was to begin considering sanctions against Iran Monday night.