Back to Brief on Iran
The National Council of Resistance issued a statement on Saturday indicating that in an unexpected appearance in Tehran's Friday prayer, Khamenei, leader of the mullahs' regime, rejected all forms of rapprochement with the West and the United States. Khamenei said the enemy wanted to propagate "an incorrect and illogical action towards the Arrogant front," which is not true.
The NCR quoted Khamenei as saying that the fact that one faction within the regime is inclined to improve ties with the United States is a notion disseminated by the Arrogant powers' propaganda machine to encourage themselves.
The remarks by Khamenei reaffirmed that export of terrorism, crisis and fundamentalism continue to remain the inviolable principles of the mullahs' foreign policy. The NCR said by comparing the situation of the regime to the final days of Ceausescu, Khamenei revealed his fear of the overthrow of the clerical regime.
Khamenei Harshly Attacks US, The Associated
Press, January 2
Iran's spiritual leader renewed harsh attacks on the United States on Friday, saying Washington was intent on destabilizing the Islamic republic….
The cleric's sharp words contrasted sharply with the president's unprecedented moves toward reconciliation with the United States and illustrated the power struggle between hard-line and moderate factions in Iran's ruling hierarchy.
U.S. leaders "want to build a gap between the people and Iranian leaders and they want Iran to turn to the West and the United States," Khamenei said in a Friday sermon.
He accused Western nations of using "guileful propaganda tricks" against Iran. "They would like to bring about instability and insecurity in the nation," he said….
[Reuters reported Thursday that the Iranian media have in the past weeks repeatedly condemned any suggestion of talks with the US and added that no mainstream politician or newspaper had openly advocated talks with Washington since last month.]
Iran Says No Grounds for Better Egypt Ties for Now,
Reuter, December 31
Iran on Wednesday expressed disappointment at Egypt's questioning of Iranian intentions toward Cairo and said there were currently no grounds to improve troubled ties between the two counties.
"Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said...that
at present there are no grounds for the enhancement of Tehran-Cairo diplomatic
ties," Iran's official news agency IRNA said….
Tehran Pursues New Arms, The Washington Post, December 31
Twice on consecutive days this month, once very much in public and once in a jolt of classified intelligence, news from Iran intruded on a deadlocked Clinton administration debate.
First came the unexpected overture of Iranian President Mohammed Khatemi at the Organization of the Islamic Conference on Dec. 14….
On Monday evening, Dec. 15, as the first analyses of Khatemi's remarks were underway, a second and less pleasant surprise reached officials with the right security clearances. Satellite reconnaissance of the Shahid Hemat Industrial Group research facility, not far south of Tehran, had picked up the heat signature of an engine test for a new generation of Iranian ballistic missiles, each capable of carrying a 2,200-lb. warhead more than 800 miles.
The test -- the sixth or eighth this year, according to rival interpretations of available intelligence -- marked another advance for a liquid-fueled intermediate-range missile that would enable Iran for the first time to strike Israel, all of the Persian Gulf emirates, most of Saudi Arabia and Turkey with warheads that could contain chemical or biological agents.…
The juxtaposition of charm and threat has added intensity to an unfinished administration debate on how to influence Iranian behavior….
With a few exceptions, the administration's Iran-watchers are convinced that Khatemi's news conference was part of a significant struggle between Iran's recently elected president and the country's ruling clerics….
Policymakers who focus most closely on the Middle East, led by Assistant Secretary of State Martin Indyk and senior director Bruce Reidel of the National Security Council staff, are described by participants in the debate as pushing strongly for sanctions against Total.
Between now and next summer, these officials maintain, Iran is due to tender for some $5 billion more in oil development projects. Before September's announcement of the South Pars deal, moreover, U.S. officials warned Total bluntly about the sanctions and the U.S. ambassador to France, Felix Rohatyn, pleaded with French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine to halt the contract. If the administration fails to carry out its threats, some officials warn, a massive infusion of capital to Iran will be unstoppable….