BRIEF  ON  IRAN
No. 218
Thursday, July 27, 1995


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


Iran for Boosting Oil, Economic Ties with N. Korea, Reuters, July 26

        Iran has called for strengthened economic and oil cooperation with
North Korea, the Iranian news agency said on Wednesday
        It quoted... Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani as saying that  "it was
necessary for both countries to make new efforts for joint oil and economic
cooperation."
        "The two countries shared identical views on their foreign policies
as well as their internal issues,"  IRNA quoted Rafsanjani as telling North
Korea's official Korean Central News Agency...


Iran Desperate for Cash, Radio Israel, July 25

        In an attempt to neutralize the unpleasant effects of U.S. economic
sanctions, the Islamic rule in Iran, has rented 28 gigantic oil tankers to
deliver Iranian oil quickly to probable buyers.
        Oil experts say despite claims of the oil ministry of the Islamic
government, it has encountered growing difficulties in selling its oil and
in reality the rented tankers are mobile storage.


The Biggest Industrial Protest in Iran, Agence France Presse, July 25

        Daily Salaam reported on Tuesday that several hundred workers of
the main truck-assembly factory in Iran, in south Tehran, are holding a
protest since Saturday because of wage disputes.
        According to the newspaper, which is an organ of radicals, the
workers of Khavar Benz, the first truck-assembly factory with Mercedes
emblem in Iran, about 6 miles south of the capital, have gathered in the
factory since Saturday afternoon and refuse to leave the premises.
        They are protesting the stop on various benefits and are seeking
salary raise.
        The protesters have met with representatives of Information
Ministry also but "are refusing to leave the factory as long as their
demands are not met."
        This factory is currently under police surveillance and the police
is controlling the traffic there.  The Iranian labor laws clearly do not
recognize any rights for protest and has amended suspension of work when
there are disputes between workers and management by staying in the
factory.


MULLAHS' INCOMPETENCE
HURTING THE PEOPLE

Floods Kill Seven People, Level 30 Villages, Reuters, July 26

        Torrential rains and floods have killed seven people in southern
Iran and damaged farms, houses, bridges and roads in about 30 villages,
Iranian media said on Wednesday.
        Floods virtually destroyed a village of 150 families in Fars
province, killing six residents and 1,040 heads of cattle, Tehran radio
said.
        Floods killed an 18-year-old girl in a village in Kerman province,
the Iranian news agency IRNA said.
        The flooding damaged over 23 villages in Fars and Kerman and
several more villages in southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province, IRNA
said.


Arson Destroys an Old Theater, Agence France Presse, July 25

        On Tuesday, Akhbar newspaper reported that a sever fire destroyed
one of the two theaters in Kharq Island, Iranian main oil terminal in north
of Persian Gulf.  The fire did not cause any casualties...
        This paper emphasized that because of "shortage in necessary
equipment and tools," the fire fighters were not able to control the fire.
        The theater which was built 35 years ago belonged to the National
Oil Company of Iran and since five years ago was used as a cultural and
recreational center for Iranians living on the island.