BRIEF ON IRAN, No. 235 Representative Office of The National Council of Resistance of Iran Monday, August 21, 1995 3421 M Street NW #1032, Washington, DC 20007 Do Not Lessen Importance of Rushdie's Death Edict- Khamenei's Advisor, Agence France Presse, August 17 The daily Salam, organ of the radicals in Iran, wrote that on Wednesday, Ali Akbar Mohtashami, the leader of Iran's Islamist radicals, was prevented from delivering a lecture at Tehran University. In a statement published in Salam, Mohtashami announced that he was invited for that lecture a month ago and was going to talk about the "current state of the revolution." The University Guards prevented Mohtashami from entering the conference hall; however, Mohtashami gave a "summary of that lecture" in front of the hall.... Expressing disappointment, Mohtashami said that some people try to lessen the importance of Khomeini's death edict against Salman Rushdie. But without any further details, he added that "fortunately with steadfast response of the leader [Khamenei], this conspiracy was neutralized." Last June, Iran refused to give a written response to the European Union regarding Salman Rushdie.... Mohtashami ... is currently a member of Khamenei's political advisors group. Further Increase in Price of Basic Foodstuff in Iran, Israeli Radio, August 19 In Lorestan province, one of the main meat- producing regions in Iran, the price of red and white meat soared substantially. Recently, the price of veal, which was 670-700 toumans per kilo went up twice, reaching 800 toumans per kilo. In Tehran, the price of a kilo of meat has surpassed 1,000 toumans.... Russian: Nuclear Plant Construction to Begin within Three Months, Associated Press, August 20 NICOSIA - Russian experts will begin building a nuclear complex in Iran within three months, a top Russian official was quoted as saying Sunday.... The United States has been pressuring Moscow to cancel the estimated $1 billion deal.... About 200 Russian nuclear scientists have been in Bushehr since Moscow signed a contract in January to finish the plant and provide two light water reactors. Some 3,000 more Russians are expected to work on the project. The United States has denounced the deal, saying that anything enhancing Iranian nuclear expertise could also eventually help it to make atomic weapons. U.S. Energy Secretary Visits South Africa, Reuters, August 19 CAPE TOWN - U.S. Energy Secretary Hazel O'Leary arrived in Cape Town on Saturday at the start of a week- long visit overshadowed by a South African oil marketing joint venture with Iran.... She said she would raise her personal concerns and deliver a government message about trade with Iran, but declined to say what her message would be.... The United States has imposed a trade embargo against Iran and has asked other countries, including South Africa, not to do business with the Islamic republic, which Washington accuses of human rights abuses and sponsoring international terrorism.... Paris Bomb Blast, Reuters, August 20 NICOSIA - ...A bomb exploded near the Arc de Triomphe in the heart of Paris on Thursday, injuring 17 people including 11 tourists. Police suspect Algerian Islamic fundamentalists battling the military-backed Algerian government of the bombing, the second at a tourist spot in the French capital in less than a month. Iran's embassy in Paris had denied any involvement after French television reported that a car with Iranian diplomatic plates had been seen in the area just before the bomb went off.... The latest blasts recalled a wave of bombings that hit Paris department stores in 1986. Those attacks were blamed by French officials on the Iranian-backed Hizbollah party in Lebanon.