A Hostage's Story

By Barry Rosen

Former diplomat Barry Rosen, 55, recalls the U.S. embassy siege:

I looked out. People were jumping over the walls. They had placards with Khomeini's picture. Some had clubs. Some had automatic weapons. They blindfolded me, tied my hands and marched me to the cook's quarters. I felt I could be executed. There was so much chaos. I thought, "Is this real?" That night they said, "You give us the Shah, and you are free."

They slapped me around in the beginning. I wasn't a "good boy," but as time went on, I learned it didn't pay to be a smart aleck. There were mock trials. I said, "I will not answer any of your questions." The next day they marched me to a large hall. They said, "Here is a piece of paper. If you don't answer these questions by the count of 10, we'll shoot you." They put a gun to my head and started counting.

I try to use [the siege experience] for positive purposes. It has made me stronger and more understanding as a person. I want to be hopeful about U.S.-Iran relations. Abdi has apologized privately to me in a very sincere way. But it has been physiologically difficult. When I hear a car backfiring, I still jump.