Parents of captive Marine ask to meet the militants

The mother and stepfather of 20-year-old Marine Sgt. Kevin Hermening, a hostage held at the occupied US Embassy in Iran, flew here with their lawyer over the weekend. Upon arrival, Barbara and Kenneth Timm of Oak Creek, Wis., called the embassy students to request a meeting with them and were still waiting for a reply at this writing.

A spokesman for the students said they were studying whether such a visit favored the United States or not and whether they might demand some concession from Washington in return, such as the release of prisoners held in American jails.

The Timms and their lawyer came here despite a ban on travel to Iran by US citizens imposed by President Carter. They were issued a 15-day visa in Paris on instructions from the Iranian Foreign Ministry.