TEHRAN - Tehran on Monday blasted French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin as "immature" after he warned Iran could be frozen out of the international community over the case of 13 Jews facing trial on espionage charges.

"An informed source from the foreign ministry criticised the recent remarks made by the French prime minister as immature and based on personal emotions," the official IRNA news agency reported.

The ministry source warned that France was "seriously interfering" in Iran's internal affairs.
 

Khatami's Failed Visit to France, State-controlled Tehran Times, November 15

Some Western countries sometime intentionally and sometime on the initiative of the international Zionist lobby meddle in internal affairs of Iran that helps those who really want to build a wall around the Islamic Republic.

… Mohammad Khatami, despite opposition from certain circles, visited Italy, Vatican and recently France… Khatami's visit to Paris was controversial and some really wanted him not to visit France.

The President, however, went there to start dialogue with a country that rightly claims to be a cradle of civilization. The Iranian nation was expecting a favorable response from France. But the fact is that France disappointed those who advocated Khatami's trip to Paris and encouraged those who wanted to keep a wall around Iran…

During his visit to Paris, Khatami once more made Iran's position on the accused clear particularly for the French officials including Prime Minister Lionel Jospin. After the calcifications made by Khatami on the issue it is really surprising that the same premier issues a warning and says: Paris would not countenance Iran's returning to the international community if it executed 13 Jews accused of spying for Israel and the United States.

Is this response of Paris to the visit of Khatami who supported the idea of dialogue between the civilization? This sort of statements will do nothing but encourage those who are against Iran's move for opening its door to the outside world, particularly the West…
 

Western Support for Khatami Does Him More Harm Than Good: Paper, Agence France Presse, November 14

TEHRAN - Western support for Mohammad Khatami does him and his government more harm than good, the Kayhan International daily said in an editorial Sunday.

"Iranians of all persuasions loyal to the Islamic Republic interpret foreign support for the government against its domestic political opponents as open international interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state", the paper said.

"Western expressions of support to Khatami do not help him or his government, rather they provoke Khatami's opponents to accuse his administration of leniency towards the West and to bring out the old yardstick that if the West approves of something in Iran it must be wrong for the nation and right for western interests".
 

Another Blow to Khatami, Associated Press, November 12

DUBAI - In another blow for Mohammad Khatami, a clerical jury has found his closest ally guilty on 15 charges, including insulting Islamic sanctities, a news agency reported.

Thursday's action appears aimed at preventing Abdollah Nouri from running for the position of parliament speaker. Nouri is the choice of reformists for the post in February's elections for parliament, or Majlis.

Generally, the judge's decision is at least as tough as the jury's. Nouri could get a jail term, though the possible length is as yet unspecified.

The seven-man hard-line jury did not consider Nouri "deserving any ease of punishment," IRNA reported.
 

U.S. Criticizes Shell Oil-Iran Deal, Associated Press, November 15

WASHINGTON - Declaring Iran had not changed its ways, the Clinton administration is launching an investigation into a $800 million contract signed by The Royal Dutch Shell Group with the National Iranian Oil Co. to develop offshore oil fields in the Persian Gulf.

"We are clearly disappointed and very much concerned," Philip Reeker, a State Department spokesman, said Monday.

Reeker said Iran continues to support terrorism and ardently opposes U.S. peacemaking efforts in the Middle East. He said the Clinton administration had strongly opposed the deal.

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