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A statement issued by the National Council of resistance of Iran indicated that a group of Iranians residing in Torino, Italy, hurled paint-filled eggs at the motorcade of Kamal Kharrazi, the clerical regime's Foreign Minister, and his entourage.
The statement added that simultaneously, a large number of Iranians staged a demonstration in the city to protest the visit. They chanted "death to Khamenei, death to Khatami;" "expel murderers of Iranian people from Italy;" "Kharrazi is a terrorist!"
Ms. Mitra Baqeri, the representative of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Italy pointed out: The Iranians' reaction to the criminal Foreign Minister of the clerical regime, which resembled previous incidents in Rome, New York, Ottawa, Paris, Stockholm, and other European cities, reaffirms the illegitimacy of the mullahs' regime among the people of Iran.
Referring to the arrest of Iranians by Torino's police and the prevention of their picket line despite permission from city officials, she added: The arrest of Iranian refugees for expressing their views against a blood-thirsty regime is a dangerous precedent which runs counter to all legal and democratic values of a civilized nation.
Iran Begins First Phase of Gulf Naval Maneuvers, Agence France Presse, December 2
TEHRAN—Iran's navy and air force began the preliminary phase of their military maneuvers in the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea on Wednesday, a military spokesman said.
The five-day Vahdat (Unity)-77 exercises, covering a 20,000-square-kilometer (8,000-square-mile) area, will involve around 50,000 troops and will employ Russian-made Sukhoi-24 bombers as well as home-manufactured bombs weighing around 250 pounds.
Iran's navy commander Admiral Abbas Mohtaj said last week submarines purchased from Russia in early 1990s will also be deployed.
Iran's procurement of the submarines provoked fears among Gulf Arab states that they may pose a threat and jeopardize Gulf stability.
Khatami's Minister: Iran Does Not Need U.S. Relationship, Dow Jones News, December 1
ROME—Iran's foreign minister Tuesday said the U.S. wasn't ready for relations with Tehran based on 'reciprocal respect.'
Kamal Kharrazi, Tehran's top diplomat, gave his assessment while talking to reporters at a forum in the northern Italian city of Turin on Iranian-Italian relations.
The U.S. State Department considers Iran a sponsor of terrorism.
Iran, for now, "doesn't need relations with the United States," ANSA quoted him as saying.
Economic Indicators Paint A Grim Picture for Mullahs, The Indian Hindu Daily, December 2
TEHERAN—Those who yearn for fundamental changes in Iran fancy that a difficult economic situation will spark off a political movement and produce crunch-time by as early as March next year. Others believe that the economic situation, while difficult, can be managed and that once the Government (or regime) succeeds in doing so it will not face a serious challenge. Both points of view appear to be right and wrong. A growing impatience, even if not outright dissatisfaction, is discernible on the streets and how this will manifest itself in the months to come might not depend entirely on how the Government's handling of the economy pans out.
Current economic indicators tend to show that Iran is in a pretty bad way…. It is estimated that about 80 per cent of Iran's foreign exchange earnings come from oil sales. At the beginning of this financial year (in March) it was estimated that international oil prices would be stuck around $17 to a barrel but a quick revision had to be made and the estimate was pegged at $16 to a barrel. However, international oil prices have plummeted far below this level to $10 a barrel and this is apparently the price available at Port Said (mouth of the Suez canal). From this has to be deducted the cost of shipping oil to Port Said and the insurance charges. Non- oil exports are expected to be far below the projected level of $2 billions….
In addition to the $1 billion dollar trade gap the Government has to service debts estimated as between $4-5 billions for this year.
The Government's problems are further compounded because an estimated 40 to 50 per cent of its revenues are apparently made up from the proceeds of oil sales.
After much protracted wrangling with the Government Parliament has pegged the projected budget deficit for the year at $5.9 billions….
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