BRIEF  ON  IRAN
        No. 164
        Tuesday, May 9, 1995


        Representative Office of
        The National Council of Resistance of Iran
        3421 M Street NW, #1032
        Washington, DC 20007



Mr. Rajavi Calls on G-7 Nations to Impose Trade Embargo on
Mullahs' Regime, From Statement by the NCRI, May 8

        "Mr. Massoud Rajavi, President of the National Council of
Resistance of Iran, sent a telegram to the leaders of the seven
industrialized nations and the Russian President, urging them
to join the trade embargo against the mullahs ruling Iran.
        "The NCR President stressed: As President Clinton has
said, 'the evidence of the last two years proves' that the policy
of 'engaging' with the regime will not lead to change in its
behavior. Owing to the Khomeini regime's backward and
medieval nature, the policy of critical dialogue or any policy
that was based on appeasing this regime has had the opposite
effect.
        "He added: Regrettably, widespread political and
economic ties between industrialized and western countries
and the dictatorship ruling Iran as well as the international
community's silence and indifference toward the cleric's
atrocities in and out of Iran have been a major factor in
prolonging the mullahs' rule and have encouraged the clerics
to continue these crimes. Petro-dollars that find their way
from these countries into the mullahs' pockets are used totally
for domestic clamp down, export of terrorism and
fundamentalism and weapons purchases. Not even a dollar is
spent on the country's welfare and economic development.
        "Referring to the Iranian people's welcoming of
President Clinton's courageous action to impose a trade
embargo on Iranian rulers, Mr. Rajavi said: This embargo is
the first proper and necessary step that serves the cause of
peace and coexistence in the region. In view of the Iranian
people's disdain toward the Khomeini regime, the Iranian
society's explosive state and the presence of a just and
nationwide Resistance and a democratic alternative, such an
embargo will expedite the establishment of democracy in
Iran, the NCR President stressed.
        "The NCR President said: In the name of the Iranian
people and Resistance, I therefore call on you and your
government to join the embargo against this illegitimate
regime..."


Clinton Signs the Executive Order Against Iran, Associated
Press, May 8

        "President Clinton flew to Moscow on Monday for what
promised to be a troublesome summit after making good on a
promise to tighten sanctions on Iran, a controversial customer
for Russian nuclear equipment...
        "As Clinton left Washington for the nine-hour flight, the
White House issued the final draft of an executive order
signed by Clinton imposing a full trade ban on Iran.
        "'The United States cannot remain idle in the face of this
heightened threat posed by Iran,'  White House spokesman
Mike McCurry said..."


Iran Calls for Joining the Forces Against Israel, Agence France
Presse, May 8

        "Iran's official news agency, IRNA, reported that on
Sunday Iran has called for 'alliance of Islamic counties' to
confront the 'occupant Zionist hegemony' after the take over
of Jerusalem Arabs' lands by Israel.
        "Quoting Mahmoud Moham-madi, the spokesman of the
Foreign Ministry, IRNA condemned 'continuing the occupation
of the territories that belong to Moslem Palestinians' by Israel.
        "Mohammadi added that 'Occupation of Palestinians'
lands is the result of U.S. support for the Zionist regime and
lack of attention by some of Arab countries to the United
States' policy in the Middle East.'  He said 'If Islamic countries
do not act against the occupant's hegemony, they will confront
even more complicated problems in the future.'"


Iran's Crumbling Economy, Israeli Radio, May 7

        "[The state-run] Keyhan newspaper in today's issue has
assessed that currently a family of five in Tehran needs
1000,000 rials [approx. $250] per month for a simple life.
This is in a circumstance when the average income of office
staff and labor is about 200,000 to 300,000 rials [approx. $40
to $60] per month.
        "Keyhan asked what percentage of the salary receiving
class earns such an income?  It added: The mere answer to
this question is the attempt of this people to obtain additional
jobs.  The expansion of this line of work results in more
economic problems and consequently the increase in inflation
and falling into the trap of price hikes."