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WASHINGTON - With the help of North Korea, China and Russia, Iran is trying to develop a missile capable of striking anywhere in the Mideast and hopes to test fire components by the end of the year, the main Iranian opposition group said Wednesday….
Officials of the U.S.- and French-based National Council of Resistance of Iran, a coalition of opposition groups that includes the Peoples' Mujahedin, released what they said was the most detailed description of the missile project, obtained from sources within the Iranian regime.
Alireza Jafarzadeh, a member of the council's foreign relations committee, said that as part of an effort to become the dominant Islamic state in the region and rival Israel in military technology, Iran is doing all it can to obtain weapons of mass destruction and to produce medium-range missiles….
Iran Has Tested Missile: Iranian Opposition,
Agence France Presse, January 7
WASHINGTON - Iran has recently conducted a test of a prototype long-range missile capable of striking Israel, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and much of the Gulf, Iran's opposition in exile said here Wednesday.
Tehran is currently trying to produce 15 missiles with direct help from North Korean and Chinese experts, officials from the National Council of Resistance of Iran said…The Council listed 15 sites where work on the Iranian missile program is being carried out at a cost of 300 million dollars in 1997 alone…
U.S. Congressmen Still Skeptical of Iran's Intentions, Dow Jones News, January 7
WASHINGTON - The Republican-dominated U.S. Congress, which has pushed the Clinton administration to maintain a hard-line policy against Iran, remains skeptical of Tehran's intentions in calling for a dialogue with the American people, several congressmen indicated…
Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., who chairs the Senate subcommittee with jurisdiction over the Middle East, said it's too early to know if Iran would change the behavior Washington finds objectionable. 'Iran cannot be a friend of the American people in rhetoric alone,' he said.
'I will not support any change or lifting
of sanctions on Iran until we see measurable improvement in the Iranian
behavior which brought on those sanctions in the first place: support for
terrorism, undermining the (Middle East) peace process, acquisition of
weapons of mass destruction and continued internal repression,' Brownback
said…
Khatami's Bubble Bursts with a Bang, Iran Zamin News Agency, January 7
Commenting on CNN's interview with the president of mullahs' regime, Mr. Mohammad Mohaddessin, Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran said:
"Khatami's statements tonight ended the propaganda blitz of recent weeks regarding his inclination toward moderation. Khatami reiterated the long-standing positions of the mullahs' religious, terrorist dictatorship and repeatedly referred and deferred to Khamenei, underscoring his loyalty to Khamenei's theocratic government.
"Rejecting dialogue with the American government, Khatami advocated cracking the wall of mistrust, reminiscent of the secret dealings of Irangate. He defended the policy of exporting terrorism and fundamentalism, as well as the 1979 American hostage-taking.
"Khatami tried his best to explain away the "death to America" slogan. He emphasized the regime's opposition to Middle East peace, and support for the groups opposing the peace process. Despite the clear condemnation of the regime's leaders in a Berlin court, Khatami denied their involvement in international terrorism.
"Khatami's statements tonight once again revealed that the policy of exporting terrorism and fundamentalism is the common denominator among all the regime's factions. The regime's leaders can never retreat from such fundamental policies.
"Khatami's positions in his interview tonight were far weaker than those of Rafsanjani eight years ago, and television viewers in Iran assessed his remarks as much more conservative than those of Rafsanjani.
"Thus Khatami's bubble burst with a bang. His interview tonight showed that there is no capability for reform within the Iranian regime. More than anything else, the moderate posturing of Khatami indicates weakness and an escalating crisis within the regime. The situation is reminiscent of the last stages of the Shah's dictatorship.
"Khatami's emphasis on preserving the regime, its constitution and its fundamental policies parallel those of Khamenei. Last Friday, Khamenei announced that they have no difference on key issues, including relations with the United States. Each plays his role, he said. Khatami emphasized tonight that it is wrong to categorize the regime's leaders as moderates and radicals, and said that it is Khamenei who sets policy, and the government which implements it."