The United States is looking into allegations that Iran's president-elect Mahmood Ahmadinejad played a role in the 1979 siege of the US embassy in Teheran, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Thursday.

"I would say we're looking into the facts," McClellan said, adding that news reports and statements raised "many questions" of Ahmadinejad's past.

According to a report by the Washington Times on Thursday, Americans held in the 1979 seizure of the US embassy in Iran told the daily that they clearly recall Ahmadinejad playing "a central role" in the takeover, interrogating captives and demanding harsher treatment for the hostages.

On November 4, 1979, Iranian students took hostage of some 90 people inside the US embassy. Fifty-two remained in captivity until they were released on January 20, 1981.

The Iranian side has denied allegations concerning Ahmadinejad.

Source: Xinhua