Back to Brief on Iran
The National Council of Resistance of Iran issued a statement today indicating that Ali Khamenei, the mullahs' leader, has in recent months considerably increased the authority and resources of the "Organization of Islamic Culture and Communications," one of the regime's main bodies responsible for implementing its terrorist and fundamentalist policies abroad.
The statement said that in order to further step up this organization's terrorist activities abroad, the head of this organization will soon be replaced. Ali Akbar Velayati, the former Foreign Minister who was convicted in a Federal Court in Germany as one of the officials responsible for the assassination of Iranian dissidents abroad, mullah Akhtari, the mullahs' ambassador to Syria and in charge of communications and logistics for many terrorist groups affiliated with the regime in the Middle East, and mullah Mohammadi Araqi, head of the Islamic Propaganda Organization, are said to be among the candidates for heading the organization. All four are actively involved in organizing the regime's terrorist activities abroad.
The Organization of Islamic Culture and Communications is, among other things, responsible for creating companies, libraries and cultural centers abroad where the clerical regime attracts potential terrorists, then trains and recruits them in its networks, and organizes them for terrorist operations and activities. The Foreign Ministry ensures unrestricted travel for members and agents of this organization abroad in the guise of reporters and cultural attachés.
Détente in Iran-U.S. Relations Will Be A Little
Late This Year, New York Times, Jan. 22
For the moment at least, the initiative by President Mohammad Khatami to break down what he called the "wall of mistrust" between Iran and the United States seems to be dead.
Newspaper editorials, independent analysts and even some Iranian officials said Khatami's harshly worded sermon on Monday branding the United States an enslaver of Iran illustrated that for the sake of unity, he has retreated from his warm praise of American civilization and the American people.
Even Khatami's modest proposal, in an interview with CNN two weeks ago, to begin cultural exchanges with the United States may not be as ambitious as it seemed….
Khatami's tone in his sermon, broadcast live on television on Monday night and again on Tuesday, was his harshest since he assumed the presidency in August. He appeared uncharacteristically tense, and by the end of the hourlong presentation, beads of sweat had formed on his brow.
Some analysts interpreted his retreat as a direct response to an angry speech on Friday by Iran's spiritual leader and highest authority, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in which he called for unity, ruled out any dialogue with the United States and branded America "the enemy of the Iranian nation" and the "great satan."
In editorials Wednesday, hard-line newspapers that had criticized Khatami's earlier conciliatory stance praised his tough sermon.
Khatami's speech, wrote Jomhori Islami, "once again brought relief to the minds of the people, in the face of a conspiracy by the enemies of revolution to pit the forces of the revolution against each other."
"Unity among people and officials is one of the fruits of the system and the revolution in this sensitive time," the paper added….
No Change in Mullahs' Policies, National
Review, January 26
Conciliatory overtures by Iran's president, Mohammed Khatami, are hastening the day of some sort of American-Iranian "dialogue." In the abstract, dialogue is a neutral thing: full diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union did not prevent America from pursuing whatever policy it wanted, from détente to rollback. In the Iranian case, however, the context is not auspicious. There has been no change in the Iranian policies that are at the heart of the conflict, and gushing over a possible dialogue will further deepen the Clinton Administration's reluctance to enforce sanctions against foreign companies investing in Iran. The collapse of America's sanctions policy will guarantee an unequal conversation, from which Iran will benefit far more than we.
Algeria PM Says Iran Top of List Backing Terrorism,
Reuter, January 22
Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia singled out Iran on Thursday as being first among those contributing to "terrorism" striking the North African country….
In his speech, carried live by Algerian television, Ouyahia said: "If we talk about those who contributed directly to arming the Algerians and training Algerians with regard to terrorism and striking this Moslem nation, I mention at the top of this list the Tehran regime."
Answering questions in a special session on the carnage, Ouyahia told MPs: "I mention the Tehran regime which today is urging us to find a solution and is trying to mobilize the Islamic world in a vain attempt against the Moslem Algeria which it helped to destabilize."…