The state-run television in Iran reported a "relatively powerful" explosion in the northeastern city of Mashad, which left behind two dead and several injured. A Mojahedin press spokesman condemned the bombing and said: "The only party that benefits from such crimes is the mullahs’ regime." He pointed out that agents of the clerical regime have in the past resorted to similar bombings in public places on numerous occasions.

The Mojahedin spokesman stressed that the Mojahedin have always condemned in the strongest terms any act that would endanger the lives of innocent people.
 
 

Khatami "a Son of Islamic Revolution and a Supporter of the System", Agence France Presse, September 18

TEHRAN - A Tehran daily on Saturday denounced the European parliament’s call for the release of 13 Iranian Jews facing the death sentence here on charges of spying for Israel.

"The lack of insight European officials have into Iran’s political situation is surprising," the Javan paper said about the parliament’s statement, which also criticized death sentences handed down to four people in connection with July’s bloody student riots.

European officials are "ignoring that President Mohammad Khatami, just like any other official of the regime, is a son of the Islamic revolution and a supporter of the system," Javan said, calling the parliament’s statement "irrational."

The paper called on the foreign ministry to "firmly defend the standing charges of spying against the 13 Jews, as well as the death sentence handed down against four people in connection with the unrest."

"Why has Europe reached this false and baseless conclusion that Khatami and his partisans are a faction opposing the Islamic regime," Javan said.
 
 

Leader Above the Constitution!, State-controlled Daily Tehran Times, September 16

TEHRAN - The Secretary-General of Iran Islamic Nation Party (IINP), or the Hezbollah Assembly of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Hamid Najjari, said the main quality of his party is total obedience to the Leader of the Islamic Republic.

… Najjari, who was addressing a press conference, said remarks made by the Leader of the Islamic Republic are above the Constitution, and that their support for any individual, group or even the three branches of government depends on the instructions of the Leader…. "There is no difference of views between the IINP and Ansar-e Hezbollah, and the press should not attack these pious and devout individuals," Najjari noted.
 
 

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Denounces Sharm El-Sheikh Accord, Agence France Presse, September 16

TEHRAN - Iran’s parliament speaker on Thursday denounced the "humiliating" Sharm el-Sheikh peace accord Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat signed with Israel earlier this month.

"It is truly unfortunate for the Islamic world that Yasser Arafat signed the most humiliating of agreements with Israel," Ali Akbar Nateq-Nuri said, cited by the official IRNA news agency.

The remarks come one day after Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also attacked the September 5 agreement, which paved the way for the final-status talks launched Monday.

The Palestinians "surrendered to the usurper and its main supporter, namely the United States," Khamenei said.

Iran does not recognize Israel, opposes the peace process between Israel and a number of Arab states, and supports radical Palestinian and Lebanese movements engaged in armed struggle against it.
 
 

Hamas Leaders May Have Escaped to Iran, Associated Press, September 17

AMMAN, Jordan - The radical Palestinian group Hamas was compiling security information on Jordan and giving arms training to activists before its offices in Jordan were shut down, officials said today.

Hamas is opposed to the peace process with Israel and has conducted scores of deadly attacks on Israeli civilians since its foundation 10 years ago.

Mashaal [Hamas political strategist and the most senior leader in Jordan] and four other Hamas officials are being hunted by Jordanian police.

Mashaal and two of the wanted officials are believed to be in Iran and the other two are believed to be hiding in Jordan.

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