…The year 1999 is shaping up to be full of events to remind the public of the principles -- or restrictions -- shaping their lives. Many believe it could also turn out to be a year of unpredictable change.

In February, the Islamic Republic will mark the 20^th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution and the toppling of the shah.

Revolution loyalists will also commemorate the 10^th anniversary of the June 4, 1989 death of Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, and the 10^th anniversary of his fatwa condemning the British author Salman Rushdie to death for alleged blasphemy in his novel "The Satanic Verses." …

As it gears up for the three anniversaries, "Iran is being plunged into a violent internal crisis, unprecedented since Khomeini's death," said a Western diplomat in Tehran.

The ongoing tug of war between reformers and religious conservatives is reported daily by the press.… about half a dozen newspapers have been closed and several journalists have been arrested recently.…

But like in a game of chess, which was invented in ancient Persia, the players do not directly aim at the king. Instead, they seek to paralyze him by neutralizing and eliminating the pieces that defend him.'

In June, Interior Minister Abdollah Nuri fell victim to a parliamentary censure motion and, a month later, another ally of Mr. Khatami, Tehran's powerful mayor Gholam-Hossein Karbaschi, was removed from the board. He was suspended from his post over corruption charges, which many described as political

Khomeini's successor, the all-powerful supreme leader the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is present on the political scene more than ever, tirelessly defending orthodox forces….

The Islamic regime is proud to be celebrating the 20^th anniversary of the revolution, but 1999 could also prove a troubling year for Iranians, who are growing ever more discontented with economic hardship….
 
 

Murderers Were From Khatami's Faction, Iran Zamin News Agency, January 13

The Director of the Center of Governmental Documents announced that those responsible for the recent killings are from Khatami's faction. Referring to perpetrators of the recent murders in an interview with the state-run Tehran Television, Mullah Husseinian said: "What has happened in our society that has caused the religious guys to reach a dead end? They are even from His Excellency Mr. Khatami's faction. If they were from the other faction, we would have said well, this is due to the factional disputes. But unfortunately they were His Excellency's [Khatami's] supporters.
 
 

People Hate Both Factions—Newspaper, State-run Jomhuri-e Eslami, January 11

The truth is that the factional actions have been so dark and hateful that no faction has any place in people's hearts….

There should not be even an iota of suspicion about the fact that factional disputes have caused irreparable damage to the Revolution and the Regime.

…When the boat [of the regime] punctures with a hole, everybody will be drowned and there will be no trace of those aboard.
 
 

High Ranking Officials Involved in Killings, Iran Zamin News Agency, January 13

The daily Arya quoted Qatar Television as saying that certain government officials have privately said that three of the perpetrators of recent killings have had very sensitive and privileged positions inside the regime.

The newspaper added that according to Qatar TV, Although the officials are trying to keep the names of the arrested individuals and the details of the case secret, apparently seven people have been arrested so far.

In another report daily Gozaresh quoted Alireza Ghanizadeh, a member of Majlis, as saying that the number one suspect who is arrested for the recent killings in Tehran was previously head of the Intelligence Ministry Branch of Fars Province.
 
 

Pro-Khatami Terrorist MP Warns of Threat To Khatami's Life Amid Murder Row, Reuter, January 13

An Iranian parliament member said in remarks published on Wednesday that President Mohammad Khatami's life could be in danger over a row sparked by a spate of killings of dissidents,

"Given the present situation, it is likely that the enemies of the president adopt serious measures against him or even threaten his life," Kourosh Fouladi, a pro-Khatami deputy, told Iran News daily.

"I caution the president to be vigilant," said Fouladi who was elected to parliament in 1996, after being released from a British prison and deported to Iran in 1989. He had been convicted of a 1980 London car bombing.

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