Iranian: the hostages face trial if US fails to pay up

The speaker of Iran's parliament said that if the United States refused to meet Tehran's demand for $24 billion in cash and gold to free the 52 hostages, the captives would be put on trial as "a last resort."

Meanwhile, the US State Department disputed Iranian statements that the hostages are living in luxury and said several are in prison and some are suffering from serious medical problems. It was replying to statements by a spokesman for the Iranian parliamentary commission on the hostages, who was quoted as saying the AMericans "are in good hotels with all facilities." State Department officials said the main source of the US evidence is recent, deriving from letters received from 34 of the 52 Americans.