BRIEF ON IRAN, No. 238 Representative Office of The National Council of Resistance of Iran Thursday, August 24, 1995 3421 M Street NW #1032, Washington, DC 20007 S. Africa Approves Nuclear Assistance to Iran, Reuters, August 21 PRETORIA - Foreign Minister Alfred Nzo said on Monday South Africa would cooperate with Iran in peaceful nuclear technology but would not help it develop nuclear arms. Nzo said South Africa's department of energy had concluded a nuclear technology deal with Iran.... The minister was responding to questions about U.S. concern at warming relations between Pretoria and Tehran and particularly nuclear cooperation.... Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati paid a three-day visit to South Africa this month. The United States accuses Iran of trying to develop its own nuclear weapons.... South Africa produced six nuclear warheads in a program that started in the 1970s but has subsequently destroyed them and promised not to replace them. Iran Cites Reasons for Bombing in Jerusalem, Associated Press, August 22 DAMASCUS - Syria and Iran, both branded sponsors of terrorism by the United States, on Tuesday sought to justify the deadly bombing of a bus in Jerusalem.... Iran's state-controlled radio criticized the bombing, but claimed Palestinians had no choice but to resort to violence.... Meanwhile, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat accused Hamas of using the attack to try to derail the peace talks and accused Iran of financing the attack. "Iran is the one that announced they are supporting such attacks, not me," Arafat said on Tuesday. "Iran knows how much they are paying to carry out these attacks."... Tehran Regime's Terrorism Will Never Stop, Pinkerton Risk Assessment, August 22 Following yesterday's bus bombing in Jerusalem, PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat blamed the incident on Iran.... Arafat and Israel blame Iran for fomenting violence against Israel by training Hamas and Hizballah terrorists and providing them with funds, weapons and other support. The charges are accurate. The current regime will never accept the existence of Israel and will continue to support attacks against the state. Mullahs' $400 Million Fraud Case, Die Rheinpfalz, August 12 People write slogans on the walls of public places, revealing the connections between the Rafiqdoust brothers in the $400 million fraud case. The slogans mostly seen around the Azadi square, read: "I wish I were a downtrodden like Rafiqdoust." They scorn Khomeini's famous remark of "I wish I were a Pasdar (Revolutionary Guard)." [Mohsen Rafiqdoust runs the largest Iranian business complex called the Foundation of the Downtrodden."] More Fraud Cases by Regime's Officials, Agence France Presse, August 22 The press reported on Tuesday that the mayor of the second region of Tehran, along with 18 of his colleagues and 31 contractors were arrested for embezzling and fraud. According to an official of Tehran's revolutionary court quoted by the press, the mayor, Ali Amir Mostofian, is accused of receiving bribes. Regime's Economic Policies Result in Lack of Basic Goods, Israeli Radio, August 21 The Islamic government of Iran plans to import only $2 billion worth of basic goods for its more than 60 million populace in the remaining of the Persian calendar year [ending in late March, 1996]. Of this small amount, only $1.25 billion will be spent for purchasing wheat, cooking oil, sugar, sugar cane, rice, paper and tires. This level of import is one of the lowest figures ever. Economic experts relate this situation to the government's severe problems, especially those associated with reduction of currency reserves in the country. Public Safety Under Mullahs, Abrar, Tehran-based daily, August 13 Some 190,000 accidents happen every year leading to deaths or material damages. In the first three months of this year, 607 accidents in the country led to deaths. The figure is 2 percent more than the same period last year.