BRIEF ON IRAN No. 365 Friday, March 8, 1996 Representative Office of The National Council of Resistance of Iran 3421 M Street NW #1032 Washington, DC 20007 Iranian Dissident Killed, Associated Press, March 7 BAGHDAD - A member of the main Iranian opposition group was shot and killed Thursday night while driving to his office in central Baghdad, a spokesman for the group said. The murder of Hamed Rahmani came on the eve of Iranian elections for a new parliament. Farid Soleimani, a spokesman for the Mujahedeen Khalq group, blamed the attack on the Iranian government, and said it was the sixth assassination of a Mujahedeen member in Baghdad since May. "We have plenty of evidence that shows this is the work of the mullahs' regime," Soleimani said, referring to Iran's Islamic fundamentalist government.... Iran-Election: Expect no Policy Change - Minister, Associated Press, March 7 TEHRAN - ... Five thousand candidates applied to take part in the contest, but a government-appointed body of Muslim clerics rejected 2,000. The Council of Guardians did not give a reason but a key part of the screening process was an assessment of a candidate's commitment to Islamic ideals.... "It does not seem that the victory of either group will lead to any significant changes in policy," Mirsalim [minister of culture and Islamic guidance] told a news conference.... Turnout in national elections typically has been about 50 percent, a sign of indifference to the limited political choices.... While most Iranians still value the country's Islamic identity, they also are worried about more mundane matters - such as unemployment and the rapidly growing population. Peres Appeals to Europe to Stop "Flirt" with Iran, Reuters, March 7 PARIS - Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres urged European Union states on Thursday to stop "flirting" with Iran, saying the Islamic republic was more dangerous than Hitler because it sought to obtain nuclear weapons.... Peres said there was no doubt that Iran had armed, trained, financed and given orders to Hizbollah guerrillas in Lebanon and financed the radical Palestinian Moslem movements Islamic Jihad and Hamas... "Why is it that Europe is trying to close its eyes to this central and immediate threat?" he asked, singling out Germany for its ties with Tehran and French firms which he said were seeking business with Iran. Clinton Discusses Further Isolation of Iran, United Press International, March 7 President Clinton said during a meeting Thursday with Jordan's King Hussein he is considering new measures to combat terrorism in the Middle East and bolster Arab partners in the peace process with Israel. Clinton said he has been discussing the new options, which could involve further isolating Iran while encouraging cooperation between Israel and friendly Arab states, with Middle East leaders this week.... Britain Summons Iranian Diplomat Over Israel, Reuters, March 7 LONDON - Britain on Thursday summoned Iran's senior diplomat in London to express its concern at Teheran's "support for terrorism" and its reaction to recent suicide bomb attacks in Israel.... "Iranian actions, particularly opposition to the Middle East peace process, their support for terrorism and the highly distasteful remarks after the assassination of (Israeli) Prime Minister (Yitzhak) Rabin and the latest bombs are a cause for grave concern," the [British Foreign Ministry] spokesman said.... France Calls off Iranian Minister's Visit, Reuters, March 6 PARIS - France called off a planned visit by Iran's deputy Foreign Minister, Mahmoud Vaezi, in protest at Tehran's praise for Palestinian suicide attacks in Israel, the Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday.... U.S. Urged to Split Syria from Iran, United Press International, March 7 BEIRUT - The independent Lebanese newspaper An Nahar commented editorially Thursday on the United States' call for an international alliance against terrorism, saying in part: ... "What is required is to isolate Iran for its alleged involvement in terrorism and to attract Syria to the peace process by pulling her away from allies such as Iran... Kinkel Continues to Overlook the Role of Mullahs' in Terrorism, Reuters, March 7 JERUSALEM - German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel, on a visit to Israel, said on Thursday he rejected a call by Prime Minister Shimon Peres to stop Germany's dialogue with Iran in response to Moslem bombings in the Jewish state.... He said he told Peres there was no evidence so far that Iran was involved in the four suicide bombings by the fundamentalist Islamic group Hamas that have killed 57 people in Israel since February 25....