Back to Brief on Iran
The National Council of Resistance of Iran said in a statement today that this afternoon, the clerical regime's Head of Judiciary and Majlis Speaker again blamed foreign elements for responsibility in the recent wave of murders in Iran. They thus tried to portray the mullahs' medieval dictatorship as victim of "a calculated conspiracy... led and supported by the enemies of the revolution."
Mohammad Yazdi, the Head of the Judiciary, claimed that "the enemies outside Iran" have plotted this conspiracy "to undermine the pillars of the state." Yazdi further said that "by these complicated murders," the enemy is trying to "portray the Islamic Republic as lacking security."
The mullahs' Majlis Speaker Ali Akbar Nateq Nouri also emphasized: "This movement is guided from abroad."
It thus becomes completely clear that all of the regime's leaders are trying to conceal the true identity of the original masterminds and perpetrators of these murders, namely officials and operatives of this very regime, and help them evade the domestic and international consequences of these crimes.
The hollow promises of Khatami and other officials of the regime
to pursue and arrest the murderers are but part of a predetermined show
which does not beguile the people of Iran.
U.S. Accuses Russia of Breaking Nuke Pact, The Washington Times, December 16
Russia is violating an agreement with the United States not to expand its nuclear cooperation with Iran beyond the construction of a nuclear power reactor and is using the program as a cover to provide weapons know-how, the State Department said yesterday.
State Department spokesman James Foley, responding to a report in The Washington Times, said the U.S. government opposes all nuclear cooperation with Iran.…
"Despite these commitments, we are aware that a number of Russian entities are engaged in cooperation with Iran that goes beyond the Bushehr reactor project," Mr. Foley said in an interview.
"We are convinced that Iran is using the Bushehr reactor project as a cover for acquiring sensitive Russian nuclear technology," he said….
National security officials told The Times earlier this week that Russian research institutes are helping Iran develop nuclear weapons….
Administration officials said Russian nuclear cooperation with Iran involves heavy water production technology, graphite production technology and reactor design -- know-how that indicates Iran is seeking to develop a plutonium research reactor for weapons material, nuclear experts say.
Tehran is "actively negotiating" to
purchase nuclear technologies that could be used for a bomb program, the
Pentagon said in a statement, and China and Russia are providing power
reactors that "could enhance Iran's limited nuclear infrastructure and
advance its nuclear weapons program."…
Rajavi Urges European Union To Sever Ties With Clerical Regime, Iran Zamin News Agency, December 16
The National Council of resistance of Iran issued a statement today indicating that in separate letters to the Prime Ministers of troika, the NCR President Massoud Rajavi, urged them to sever all diplomatic and economic ties with the religious, terrorist dictatorship ruling Iran "until the mullahs are prepared to hold themselves accountable to international calls to halt suppression, torture and execution of the Iranian people."
The statement added that, in his letter,
the NCR President emphasized: The unbridled escalation of the regime's
internal power struggle, social discontent, urban uprisings, workers' and
students' strikes as well as the economic crisis have created an explosive
situation in society; one must expect bigger crises. Matters will doubtless
be settled before Khatami reaches his second term as President and the
regime will be overthrown by the Iranian people and Resistance. He added:
In such circumstances, any investment in this regime is doomed to failure.
Iranian Parliament Blasts Arafat for "Betrayal", Agence France Presse, December 16
More than 150 Iranian MPs have denounced US President Bill Clinton's visit to Israel and accused Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat of "betraying" the Palestinian cause.
Iran does not recognize Israel and has opposed the Middle East peace process.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Monday said the United States, which sponsors the process, and Israel are using "traitors" to achieve their goals in the Middle East.