The National Council of Resistance of Iran issued a statement today indicating that yesterday mullahs' leader Ali Khamenei, lashed out at Khatami's faction and flatly rejected any revision of "the Guardian Council's supervisory role" in determining the competence of candidates.

In his poignant remarks, Khamenei emphasized that the "wrangling" about this matter "is among baseless arguments that lack any roots. It is designed to undermine the Guardian Council and place elements who oppose Islam, the [Khomeini] and the state, in the country's legislative body."

Pointing to the rival faction's extensive efforts in the Majlis and the media to eliminate or change this "supervisory role," he said, "they are gravely mistaken. No such thing will ever happen."

Consisting entirely of pro-Khamenei members, the Guardian Council has the task of determining the "competence" of candidates for different elections in the clerical regime. As the sixth Majlis elections draw closer, this issue has aggravated the regime's internal conflicts.

Khamenei also displayed his fear of the dangers freedom of speech and the press pose to the regime's existence.

Concerned about the public's enthusiasm toward the Resistance's television programs, Khamenei endorsed the ban on the use of satellite dishes.
 

Mullahs' Supreme Leader Warns Against Cultural, Political Opening, Agence France Presse, May 19

Iran's supreme leader, in a warning to supporters of greater openness, has voiced strong opposition to cultural and political liberalization, saying it could be used by "enemies" of the Islamic Republic.

"The enemy is trying to attack the political system in the Islamic Republic with the aid of cultural devices," the official IRNA news agency quoted Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as telling a group of publishers here on Tuesday.

Khamenei's remarks were seen as an implicit warning to Culture Minister Ataollah Mohajerani and his handling of the ministry.

The warnings by the supreme leader come ahead of the second anniversary Sunday of the election of Khatami.
 

Religious Leader Backs Satellite Ban, Reuter, May 19

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has opposed easing a ban on satellite television which clerical leaders blame for spreading "corrupt" Western culture, newspapers reported on Wednesday.

Rather than easing the ban, Iran should look for new ways to block future infiltration of its airwaves by the advance of satellite technology, he said.

"It would not be logical for us to ease legal barriers now because satellite technology is heading for technological progress in the future," newspapers quoted Khamenei as saying.

"That would amount to a surrender. We should instead identify and use ways of blocking the infiltration of satellites as satellite technology advances," Khamenei said.
 

French Concern at Arrests of Jews in Iran, Agence France Presse, May 19

PARIS "A French Jewish leader Wednesday called on foreign minister Hubert Vedrine urgently to intervene over the reported arrest of 22 Jews in Iran some weeks ago, about whom nothing has been heard since.

In a statement to AFP, the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France said it was concerned at the fate of the 22.

There had been no news of them since their arrest and the reasons for the arrests were not known.
 

Personal Driver of A Liberal Iranian Opposition Leader Kidnapped, Agence France Presse, May 17

The personal driver of the head of an Iranian party has been kidnapped from in front of his house in Tehran, the party said Monday. Hossein Javaheri was abducted Saturday around 6:00 a.m. by two men who drove him off in a car to an unknown destination, Ibrahim Yazdi, secretary-general of the Freedom Movement of Iran (FMI) told AFP.

"The police, as well as the interior ministry were immediately informed of this kidnapping," Yazdi added.
 

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