Back to Brief on Iran
Even as Iraq tops the news again, neighboring Iran is shaping up to be a major headache for the United States. Tea-leaf reading is in fashion again, this time directed by American experts against the regime in Tehran. While there may —and a very big may it is— be some good news on this front, there is also troubling developments, which ought to concern the U.S. and its allies.
On the one hand, there are the as yet speculative gains in Iranian-U.S. relations, which may ensue from the election of the allegedly moderate President Mohammad Khatami….
On the other, there's the very real problem of Iran's weapons program. As reported by The Washington Times' Bill Gertz last year, and as acknowledged by CIA Director George Tenet in testimony before Congress this past week, Russian technology transfers to Iran have greatly improved Tehran's medium-range missile program. Mr. Tenet's estimate last year of a time frame of 10 years before Iran would have the capability to launch missiles against Saudi Arabia or Israel he now acknowledges to have been much too conservative. Due to Russian cooperation, Iran's weapons programs has been accelerated. Mr. Tenet declined to give a specific timeline, but documents quoted by The Washington Times suggest that this day could be a mere 18 months away….
The State Department is still pondering what to do about the French-Russian $2 billion deal to develop Iranian gas fields, which by law should incur U.S. sanctions against the companies involved. That still remains the right course until Iran changes its own sponsorship of international terrorism….
Khamenei Calls for "High Wall" Against U.S.,
Reuter, February 4
Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei on Wednesday rejected any talks with the United States and said Iran should raise a "solid and high wall" to keep out U.S. influences.
Khamenei singled out the dangers of U.S. cultural and scientific influences….
"Science is a means of power and domination ... Domineering powers use satellites, computers and huge information networks to spread their message around the world and to politically dominate others," Iran's news agency IRNA quoted Khamenei as saying.
"Therefore the correct way of avoiding the domination on Iran of a power like America is what (Ruhollah Khomeini) did, and that was to raise a solid and high wall in America's way," Khamenei added….
"Political talks with America would
be harmful to our politics and culture, to our people's morale, and to
the strategic reach of our government abroad," Khamenei said. "We have
therefore rejected talks from the start and still do so."…
Iranian Majlis Speaker Rules Out Any Dialogue with U.S., Reuter, February 5
Iran's Parliament Speaker Ali Akbar Nateq-Nouri on Thursday ruled out any Iranian dialogue with the U.S. government saying such talks would be useless….
Addressing a news conference at the end of a visit to Syria, he said Khatami's recent call for dialogue with the American people did not mean he wanted to have talks with U.S. officials….
Nateq-Nouri also strongly criticized the U.S.-brokered Arab-Israeli peace negotiations….
Infighting Among Mullahs Reaches "Assembly of Experts",
Reuter, February 4
…The Assembly of Experts reiterated its support for Khamenei after its annual meeting this week, [government-controlled news agency] IRNA said.
The backing comes after recent challenges to Khamenei's authority by critics ranging from liberal Islamist opposition figures to dissident senior clerics.
The daily Jomhuri Eslami said some assembly members had presented a motion at the meeting to expel Ayatollah Ahmad Azari Qomi, who has criticized Khamenei, from the body. Iranian media have not reported details of the debates at the meeting….
Possible Nod to Iran Draws Fire, USA
Today, February 4
Concerned by reports that the administration is considering certifying Iran as cooperative in the fight against drugs, some members of Congress plan to press President Clinton to oppose any such move.
"I don't believe that Iran has changed their stripes overnight," says Rep. Jim Saxton, R-N.J. "Iran is still in the business of producing drugs."…
[The Iranian regime, as a matter policy, executes a large number of political prisoners under the guise of drug trafficking.]
Administration officials say no final decision has been made. However, official memos say serious consideration is being given to a symbolic gesture that would certify Iran as "taking adequate steps" to combat drug trafficking….
Calling any reports about Iran "premature,"
State Department spokesman James Foley said Secretary of State Madeleine
Albright has not even "received recommendations" from her staff. Albright
makes the final recommendation to the president.