Hossein Sheikholeslam (; 29 November 1952 – 5 March 2020) was an Iranian conservative politician and diplomat who was advisor to the foreign minister Javad Zarif. He also was a member of the Seventh Islamic Parliament of Iran and previously the Iranian ambassador to Syria. Sheikholeslam was Assistant to the parliament Speaker Ali Larijani for the International Affairs. Sheikholeslam was one of the students/militants who held Americans hostage during the Iran hostage crisis. Sheikholeslam died as a result of COVID-19 on 5 March 2020. References External links Nominees Deny Iranian Report on Hostages 16 October 1988 Members of the 7th Islamic Consultative Assembly Iranian diplomats 1952 births Ambassadors of Iran to Syria Muslim Student Followers of the Imam's Line Alliance of Builders of Islamic Iran politicians Voice of Nation politicians Islamic Society of Engineers politicians 2020 deaths Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran