BRIEF ON IRAN
        No. 322
        Thursday, January  4, 1996


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




Israel, Gulf Islands Create Split between Iran, Syria, The
Washington Times, January 3

        Iran is contemplating a year of increasing political isolation
after the sudden deterioration of relations with Syria, its major
Arab ally.
        Strains in the relationship were highlighted over the weekend
when Hassan Habibi, the Iranian vice president, postponed
indefinitely a planned visit to Syria. Iranian newspapers criticized
the Damascus regime for abandoning its radical policies and seeking
peace with Israel.
        Syria's decision to resume talks with Israeli government
-amid predictions of success- leaves Iran as the region's last
bastion of solid anti-Israel feeling.
        Aside from differences over the Middle East peace process,
officials in Iran were also angered by Syria's support last week for
the United Arab Emirates in its dispute with Iran over the
ownership of three small islands in the Persian Gulf.
        The two issues have ended what an Arab diplomat called a
"very strange marriage of convenience between Syria and Iran
based on mutual strategic interests."...
        ...[In 1980s] the Assad government allowed Iran to use
Syrian-controlled areas of Lebanon to arm Hezbollah, the radical
Shi'ite Muslim group that continues to launch attacks against Israeli
forces occupying southern Lebanon.
        If the Syria-Israel peace talks are successful, Israel will
withdraw from southern Lebanon, making the military role of
Hezbollah unnecessary.
        Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati on Sunday
reaffirmed his country's backing of the Islamic resistance in
southern Lebanon. He said Iran supports the "Lebanese struggle to
repel the Zionist aggression."...


Iran Publisher Jailed for Three Months, Reuters, December 26

        TEHRAN - An Iranian court has jailed a magazine publisher
for three months after convicting him of defaming a state-run firm,
a newspaper said on Tuesday.
        The daily Kayhan said the court in Tehran sentenced
Abolqassem Golbaf, publisher of the monthly Gozaresh (report), to
three months in prison for "publishing lies" about a fertiliser firm
run by Iran's Ministry of Agriculture....
        The court said it took into consideration Golbaf's "tone and the
unpleasantness of his defence statement" in sentencing him, Kayhan
said....
        An Iranian court last month sentenced a newspaper editor to
20 lashes and six months in jail on charges including slander.
Authorities have banned four publications on various charges since
the beginning of 1995.


Iran Price Courts Rule on 280,000 Cases in Year, Reuters, January 3

        TEHRAN - Special Iranian courts enforcing state prices have
issued 280,000 rulings in a year to fight profiteering and hoarding,
Tehran radio said on Wednesday....
        The courts were part of a campaign launched after price rises,
including those of items controlled by the government, triggered a
flood of complaints in the press and parliament.
        In April, about 16 people were killed and hundreds arrested
in riots over price rises in a Tehran working-class suburb....
        When they were set up, [Justice Minister] Shoushtari warned
that violators could be judged under Islamic laws which can result
in the execution of those convicted....


Iranian Capital Declares Smog Alert, The Washington Times,
January 3

        Tehran city officials Monday warned about unusually high
smog levels in the Iranian capital....
        "The concentration of these materials [carbon monoxide, lead
and sulphur dioxide] in the city has reached levels several times
higher than the allowed amount and has put the people's health in
danger," Iranian radio said....
        Pollution levels in Tehran are among the worse in the Middle
East....