Iran Opposition Urges EU to Break Tehran Ties, Reuter, April 24 

BRUSSELS - Iranian opponents of Tehran's Moslem rulers urged the European Union on Thursday to break off its remaining links with Iran and impose sanctions for the country's promotion of terrorist activities in Europe.

The EU suspended its policy of "critical dialogue" with Iran just over two weeks ago after a Berlin court jailed an Iranian and three Lebanese for the 1992 murder of four Kurdish dissidents and said Tehran had ordered the killings.

"Does co-operation (with Iran) mean anything except co-operation in terrorism against the people of Iran?" Mohammad Mohaddessin of the National Council of Resistance of Iran asked reporters.

Mohaddessin listed 25 Iranian diplomats he said were directly involved in terrorism in Europe and accused several European companies of involvement in chemical and biological weapons production in Iran.

EU ministers are due to discuss relations with Iran at a meeting in Luxembourg on April 29….

Critics say German firms benefited, but otherwise the policy was a complete failure.

"There is now no doubt about Iran's involvement in terrorism... I hope the western countries will expel people with known terrorist links," added Mohaddessin.

 

Iran Dissidents Appeal to EU, Associated Press, April 24

BRUSSELS, Belgium - An association of Iranian dissidents on Thursday appealed to the European Union to follow the example of the United States and sever trade and diplomatic ties with Iran.

The National Council of Resistance of Iran said it will reinforce its demand with a demonstration when EU foreign ministers meet Tuesday in Luxembourg to consider a tougher stance toward Tehran….

For years, Europe has resisted U.S. efforts to break off ties with Iran despite evidence implicating Tehran in political killings. At least 63 exiled Iranian dissidents have been slain in mysterious circumstances since Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution. The resistance group said 32 dissidents were killed last year alone, including seven of its members.

France, Germany and other European countries have chosen to look the other way, reluctant to jeopardize trade with Iran, an oil-rich country of 60 million people….

"Because of this policy of critical dialogue, the Iranian regime has been able to extend its terrorist functions in European countries," said Shahin Gobadi, spokesman for the resistance group.

"The Iranian regime has been able to procure all sorts of weapons of mass destruction and dual technology with the help of German companies," he said….

"What the United States has done has been a right policy. We want all of the European Union to follow as well," Gobadi said.

 

Khamenei Calls for "Realistic" Military Maneuver, Agence France Presse, April 24 

TEHRAN - Iran's leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Thursday urged the 200,000 Iranian troops conducting war games in the Gulf to make their exercises as realistic as possible in the face of perceived US threats….

The troops from the elite Revolutionary Guards will end their four-day maneuvers on Friday with exercises in the Gulf port of Bushehr and Qeshm island, near the Hormuz Strait….

Deputy Guards commander, Brigadier Ali-Akbar Ahmadian, echoed Khamenei's concern, describing the war game as a "natural response to the illegitimate and illegal presence of American forces and to confront the infra-regional enemy."…

 

North Korea Helping Iran Develop Missile that Can Hit Israel, Agence France Presse, April 24

JERUSALEM - North Korea recently supplied Iran with computer software to manufacture surface-to-surface missiles capable of reaching Israel, an Israeli newspaper reported Thursday.

Citing senior Israeli diplomats, the Haaretz newspaper said Israel had asked the United States to raise the missile issue when it resumes negotiations with North Korea next month.

According to the report, North Korea and Iran are cooperating on developing an extended version of Pyongyang's Nodong missile, a model of the Scud D which would have a range of some 1,200 kilometers (720 miles)….

Haaretz said intelligence estimates were that Iran would be capable of building the Nodong missiles, designed to carry non-conventional warheads, within at least two years.

That timeframe could be shortened if Russia continues to provide Iran with missile-related technology, it said….

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