In a session, presided over by Mohammad Khatami, the clerical regime's President, the Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution decided that "the Islamic Republic of Iran not join the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women," the state-controlled daily Jomhouri-Islami reported.

Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the Iranian Resistance's President-elect, in a statement in this regard said while most countries have recognized and joined this convention, the mullahs' decision "not to join" reflects the depth of this medieval dictatorship's misogyny. It demonstrates that despite his hollow sloganeering, Khatami is no different from the other criminal mullahs in trampling upon the most fundamental human rights, especially of women, Mrs. Rajavi added.

 
Candidates Sign Up for Iran By-Election Showdown, Reuter, February 10

TEHRAN - Nearly 230 people have signed up to run in parliamentary by-elections in March expected to become a major showdown between… factions, newspapers said on Tuesday….

The candidates will be vetted by the Guardian Council, a body of lawyers and Shi'ite Moslem clerics, which will check their adherence to Islamic faith, belief in Iran's Islamic state system and allegiance to the country's supreme leader….

Newspapers said prominent figures were expected to run in the elections, the first showdown between Iran's political factions…

 
Russia Still Aids Iran, Reuter, February 10

JERUSALEM - Israeli Defense Minister Yitzhak Mordechai said on Tuesday Russia was continuing to help Iran develop long-range missiles and non-conventional weapons.

"There is no doubt that Russia is now supporting Iran to produce non-conventional weapons and ballistic missiles," Mordechai told a delegation of rabbis.

He said Iran's weapons projects included the development of missiles "that can cover the whole Middle East and even...large parts of Europe."…

In late January, a Russian official acknowledged that Russian firms had tried to sell goods with military uses to Iran, but said the government had stopped them….
 

Iran Paper Wants U.S. Wrestling Team Barred, Reuter, February 10

TEHRAN - A hardline Iranian newspaper on Tuesday urged the government to bar a team of American wrestlers from taking part in a Tehran tournament, saying the visit would be an insult to the Islamic nation.

The daily Jomhuri Eslami newspaper said that the expected presence of U.S. sportsmen at next week's Takhti Cup tournament in Tehran had provoked strong local opposition and raised questions over the team's safety.

"Concerns expressed over the safety of American wrestlers are based on the Iranian nation's hatred towards the U.S. government, and since the American wrestlers' visit is a political one...people will consider it as a visit by a government delegation," the Persian daily said in its leading commentary.

"We are already witnessing reactions within the society which are expected to intensify in the next days," it added….

"It seems that our sports and political officials should think more about the American wrestlers' visit...and revise their decision," the paper said.

"People are asking why have American wrestlers been invited to the tournament that marks the Fajr Decade (anniversary of the Islamic revolution)...Is this not making a fool of a nation whose blood is on the criminal hands of America?" it added….

"If the American wrestlers win the Tehran matches will the flying of the American flag and the playing of the American national anthem not be humiliating?" it said….

 
Iran Seeks $1.1 Bln Copper, Steel Project Funding, Reuter, February 9

TEHRAN - Iran is seeking $1.1 billion in foreign financing to boost copper and steel output, Iranian Mines and Metals Minister Eshaq Jahangiri said on Monday….

"Referring to the stagnation faced by some industrial sectors in the country, he said the mining sector is more reassuring and its output is much less subject to the current difficulties and mining and metal products are doing well on the domestic and international market," IRNA said.

Iran has been facing an economic slowdown blamed by economists partly on tight-money policies followed by the government to fight inflation….
 

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