BRIEF ON IRAN No. 395 Friday, April 19, 1996 Representative Office of The National Council of Resistance of Iran 3421 M Street NW #1032 Washington, DC 20007 Iranian Resistance Condemns Killings of Innocent People in Lebanon, Statement by NCR, April 18 The National Council of Resistance of Iran condemns the slaughter of large groups of innocent people in Lebanon by Israel and the displacement of thousands of people. It calls for end to military attacks, especially against civilians, by both sides. Only the fundamentalists ruling Iran benefit from such actions to export terrorism and maintain enmity toward peace in the region. Rafsanjani to Use Oil Price as a Weapon Against West, Tehran Radio, April 16 On Tuesday, Rafsanjani met with Algerian Oil Minister, Amar Makhloufi, who is the current chairman of OPEC. In this meeting he referred to oil as a vital and strategic substance. He said while this valuable source is available to third world countries, it is not being used as a weapon to confront the tyranny and expansionism of arrogant [western] countries... He then added OPEC must strive to obtain the true price of oil in the world market... Isfahan Workers Still on Strike, Iran Zamin News Agency, April 17 On April 11, the Iranian Resistance released a statement reporting workers' strike in Isfahan's Aali brick factory. According to the reports this strike is still continuing. The wages of workers in this factory have not been paid for the last six months. The workers who are conducting a sit-in protest at the labor and social affairs department and the office of governor in Isfahan refuse to return to their work until paid. No Changes Due to Iran's Parliamentary Elections Expected, Dow Jones News, April 18 TEHRAN - Iran will hold run-off parliamentary elections tomorrow, and Rafsanjani needs a strong showing from the moderates if his supporters are to win control of the legislature.... There are no formal political parties in Iran, all candidates support Islamic rule, and the election isn't expected to produce any major policy changes in Iran.... In tomorrow's balloting, the field has been narrowed to two candidates for each vacant seat, based on the vote count from the first round. Iranians to Vote in Run-offs After Tense Campaign, Reuters, April 18 TEHRAN - Iranians vote on Friday in run-off parliamentary elections after an acrimonious campaign dominated by charges of liberalism by conservatives against centrist supporters of Rafsanjani. The polls for the Majlis, or parliament, are seen as crucial for the political future of technocrats close to Rafsanjani.... They will also be an important indicator of next year's more significant presidential poll. Rafsanjani is constitutionally barred from standing for re-election, having already served two consecutive four- year terms.... Sharp antagonism between the two camps has led to the withdrawal of four prominent candidates, backed by both of them, from the SIC ticket. Many publicity banners, especially those of SIC, have been torn or defaced during the acrimonious campaign. One newspaper has called it a "War of Banners."... Rafsanjani's supporters have rejected liberalism charges.... In his latest warning against the dangers of creeping "liberalism," Khamenei on Tuesday said Iran would lose its independence if unnamed candidates were elected "whose receivers are tuned to the strong transmitters of America and the West."... Tehran Judge Warns Rafsanjani Faction, The Washington Times, April 17 TEHRAN - Chief Judge Ali Razini has warned a faction close to Rafsanjani of "legal consequences" if it misbehaves in connection with Friday's parliamentary runoff elections campaign, Tehran radio reports. According to the broadcast, the chief judge said some politically active figures in Tehran's city administration have "misused governmental facilities" to promote candidates "of a special faction."...