The French dignitaries signed a petition, urging their government not to allow the return of France's ambassador to Iran and the resumption of diplomatic ties with the Iranian regime so long as it has not formally stopped supporting terrorism and assassinating its opponents, and had not revoked the death decree against Salman Rushdie."

The measure by the French deputies coincides with the return yesterday of the representative of the European Union from Iran who had traveled there to discuss normalization of relations, but to no avail.

In a statement, the National Council of Resistance of Iran The Iranian Resistance welcomed the announcement by some 30 French parliamentarians and a large number of labor union leaders, academics and human rights organizations, opposing the resumption of diplomatic ties between France and the mullahs' regime.

The statement said: "As the Iranian Resistance has repeatedly stressed, dialogue with the mullahs' medieval regime is doomed to failure. A principled policy towards the Tehran regime entails severing diplomatic and economic ties with, and referring the long record of terrorism and violation of human rights by, this regime to the United Nations Security Council for the adoption of binding punishments."

"Our Protest Against The Occupier Of Jerusalem Is A Protest Against Global Terrorism"- Khatami, State-Run Radio, September 1 

In a meeting with the families of Lebanese martyrs^' who reside in Iran, Khatami reiterated: "Your presence in Iran is indicative of the bond among the world’s Muslims in defense of Islamic values, magnanimity and human dignity...

"Your presence here shows that the Zionist, racist regime [of Israel] has gone beyond attacking the rights of the innocent people of Palestine, and has attacked other Islamic and Arab lands."

Khatami called the Zionist regime the worst embodiment of international terrorism, adding: "Our protest against the occupier of Jerusalem is a protest against global terrorism. [Israel is] a regime established by terror; this country occupies non-Palestinian lands through the constant use of terror."

Khatami said that the Zionist regime’s bullying made a mockery of all the United Nations and Security Council resolutions, and on many occasions it avoided such resolutions with the vetoes of America, Israel's main backer. Khatami said: "It is surprising that in today’s world, even the interests of the United States and the interests of the American people are compromised as a result of the ill-advised policies of American administrations, which support the covetous designs of a racist group." He reiterated that the American administrations should apologize to the American people for their behavior.

Mullahs' Media Praise Killing Of Innocent People In Israel, Radio Israel, September 6 

Kayhan daily expressing deep pleasure from killing of Israeli citizens and soldiers wrote: "Harder days are ahead of Israel… The explosions are revolutionaries' red carpet for U.S. Secretary of State's visit to Israel. And the killing of Israelis are decisive response to the military triangle of U.S., Israel, and Turkey…

The daily then added that even if Israel left the border lines in South Lebanon, Hezbollha's terrorist operations against that country would continue….

Iran's state-run radio emphasized that the war of opponents of peace with Israel will continue. The radio referred to the suicide bombing that led to death of Israeli girls as martyrdom operations and praised it.

Iran Tests Locally Made Field Gun, Reuter, September 8 

TEHRAN - Iran has successfully tested a locally built mobile field gun known as "Thunder 2," a local newspaper said on Monday.

Hamshahri newspaper, quoting an official at the country's Defense Industries Organization, said the 155 mm self-propelled gun had a high firing rate, accuracy and mobility.

"He said it could fire five rounds per minute and move with a speed of 70 km (43 miles) per hour in the battlefield," the paper said, quoting the official.

It said the gun's range was 30 km (19 miles). It also includes features such as a laser range-finder and a semi-automatic loading system….

In May 1996, Iran successfully tested its first locally made self-propelled gun, the 122 mm Thunder 1.

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