The Mojahedin's Command Headquarters inside Iran announced this morning that its forces had carried out a total of 343 operations against the clerical regime from September 23 through October 30.

Dozens of Guards and agents of the regime were killed or wounded in five clashes between the Mojahedin and the Revolutionary Guards in the provinces of Kermanshah and Ilam from October 29-31, the report says.

In an attempt to boost the sagging morale of the regime's forces, the Intelligence Ministry disseminated a report through the official news agency, IRNA, claiming that 18 Mojahedin had been killed during the clashes.

The western provinces of Khuzistan, Ilam and Kermanshah have been the scene of extensive troop transfers, including the 35th special commando brigade and 28th division's 1st brigade. The regime has in recent weeks laid new mine fields and defensive earth barriers. It has set up 30 additional bases and new observation posts in the border region.

Clinton Says He Dislikes Iran Gas Deal, Reuter, October 31 

President Bill Clinton said on Friday he did not like the new deal in which Russian, French and Malaysian companies may help Iran pump natural gas and an "intense debate" was under way in his administration on what to do about it.

Speaking in Florida, Clinton reiterated the long-standing U.S. position that it believes Iran sponsors "terrorism" and that business contacts with the country should therefore be restricted.

Rafsanjani Denounces Congressional Support for Iranian Resistance, Agence France Presse, October 31 

TEHRAN - Former Iranian president Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani denounced Friday an attempt by members of the US House of Representatives to get President Bill Clinton to review his condemnation of the main armed Iranian opposition group…

Rafsanjani said the congressmen's move was part of an international pressure campaign against Iran by the United States.

The designation of the People's Mujahedeen as a terrorist group "compromises the effectiveness of our policy of isolating" Iran, according to a statement by Representatives Gary Ackerman, a Democrat from New York, and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Republican from Florida.

Iran recently asked the United States "to oppose in concrete terms and by legal means" the People's Mujahedeen.

Commentary 

More than 2,000 parliamentarians from 16 countries, including majorities of US Congressmen and British MPs, have signed a petition calling for a total trade boycott of Iran, it was announced Friday.

At a seminar organised by the London-based National Council of Resistance of Iran, council president-elect Maryam Rajavi said the motion was also backed by parliamentary majorities in Italy, Norway, Switzerland and Luxembourg.

In addition support was garnered from MPs in France, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, Egypt and Jordan and 250 representatives in the European parliament.

"That 2,000 elected representatives of hundreds of millions of people in Europe and the United States have underscored the need to reject placating policies, to adopt a firm approach against the clerical regime and support the Iranian resistance, reflects ... the resolve to defend human rights and democracy," she said.

Speakers at the seminar stressed that five months after the election of Mohammad Khatami as president, the new government in Tehran had shown itself to be no different from its predecessors in promoting "repression at home" and the export of "crisis and violation of international law" abroad, according to a council spokeswoman.

"Any notion of moderation in the clerical regime is only a myth", said the spokeswoman.

Speakers also expressed dismay at the increased reward offered for the murder of British author Salman Rushdie, Iran's opposition to the Middle East peace process, their export of Islam abroad and attempts to obtain nuclear weapons.

The motion calls for trade and weapons sanctions from governments around the world, for the United Nations to "deal with Iran's state terrorism as a threat to world peace" and the UN general assembly to adopt a strongly-worded resolution against human rights abuses and terrorism practiced by Iran.

Back to Brief on Iran