NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) – Iran will use its influence to try to free American hostages held in Lebanon if Washington releases Iranian assets frozen in the United States, the speaker of Iran’s parliament said Tuesday.

Hashemi Rafsanjani, who is also commander in chief of the armed forces, said that the Unied States has a “hostile” attitude toward Iran and there could be no negotiations between the two countries while the attitude continued.

In order to start negotiations, the United States must take actions to prove that it is not belligerent toward Iran, Rafsanjani said in a television interview monitored in Nicosia.

Eighteen foreigners, including nine Americans, are missing and believed to be held hostage in Lebanon. The longest held hostage is Terry A. Anderson, chief Middle East correspondent for The Associated Press. He was abducted in Moslem West Beirut on March 16, 1985.

Most hostages are believed to be held by pro-Iranian groups.