BRIEF  ON  IRAN
        No. 160
        Wednesday, May 3, 1995

        Representative Office of
        The National Council of Resistance of Iran

        3421 M Street NW #1032,
        Washington, DC 20007


36 Political Prisoners Escape From Khorram Abad Prison,
Excerpts from a statement issued by the Press Office of
the People's Mojahedin of Iran - Paris, May 2

        "36 political prisoners escaped from Andarzgah
prison in Khorram Abad, capital of the western province
of Loristan, on Saturday, April 29, reports from Iran say.
The prisoners had been transferred there from another
prison in recent weeks.
        "After the prisoners' escape, the Khomeini regime
imposed a state of emergency and re-arrested six of them.
The Guards also arrested many residents on the charge of
collaborating with the prisoners.
        "News of the escape has spread throughout Loristan
province. In a bid to cover up the incident, the mullahs
announced the prisoners were murderers and smugglers.
        "The People's Mojahedin of Iran calls on the
international community to help save the lives of the
prisoners who have been re-arrested and taken under the
most barbaric tortures."


"Hezbollah Blasts U.S. Sanctions On Iran," United Press
International, May 2

        "BEIRUT - The Iran-backed Hezbollah says
(Tuesday) U.S. President Bill Clinton made a  'foolish
mistake'  by imposing economic sanctions against Iran.
Hezbollah says the United States should have instead
'punished'  Israel for what it called its continued
oppressive measures against the Palestinians."


Albright: Dialogue With Mullahs To Soften Them Up Did
Not Work, Reuters, May 1

        "JERUSALEM - The U.S. envoy to the United Nations
said on Monday Iran was so extreme that President Bill
Clinton's move to isolate it could not make things worse....
        "'They have a global terrorist network, they have
terror against the (Middle East) peace process, and they
are aggressively working to acquire nuclear weapons...
That there be some kind of relationship with them in
order to soften them up, that approach has simply not
worked and as the superpower here, it is our
responsibility to make clear that this kind of behavior is
unacceptable,' she said....
        "'I think that they should be well-warned...(this
embargo) is one that they will understand is tough,' she
said...."


"Moscow Agrees To Reconsider Proposed Sale Of
Centrifuge To Iran," Associated Press, May 2

        "WASHINGTON - Russia has agreed to rethink its
proposed sale to Iran of gas centrifuge equipment that
U.S. officials say could be used in a nuclear weapons
program, the State Department said Tuesday....
        "There was no indication, however, that Russia was
also reconsidering the projected sale of two nuclear
reactors as part of a $1 billion deal to help construct a
nuclear power complex near the Persian Gulf....
        "[Assistant secretary of state for Near East affairs,
Robert] Pelletreau expressed administration opposition to
legislation that would expand the embargo to bar any
foreign company that does business with Iran from also
doing business with U.S. firms.
        "'They could deal with Iran or they could deal with
the United States, they could not do both,'  said Rep. Peter
King, R-N.Y., sponsor of the bill...."


"After Clinton's Urging, Japan Postpones Loan to Iran,"
Associated Press, May 2

        "TOKYO - Japan postponed a loan package to Iran
today following President Clinton's call for a trade
embargo to punish Tehran for backing terrorism and
pursuing nuclear weapons....
        "Japanese loans are the only major source of foreign
credit for Iran, and U.S. officials have pressured Japan for
months to cancel the package....
        "Iran's economy has been strapped for cash since
last year, when it was forced to reschedule $8 billion in
foreign debts, mainly to Japan, Germany, France and other
European nations...."