BRIEF ON IRAN Representative Office of The National Council of Resistance of Iran No. 418 Wednesday, May 22, 1996 3421 M Street NW #1032, Washington, DC 20007 Iranian Hard-liners Dispatch Militia to Enforce Orthodoxy, The Washington Times, May 21 Diplomats say a power struggle between hard-line and reform factions in Iran has reached a new intensity, with 200,000 Iranian "revolutionary auxiliaries" deployed in a clampdown on "religious deviation."... The highly conservative Shi'ite Society of Militant Clergy has flexed its muscles by sending into the streets the Bassij Force, a youthful militia acting in the service of the Muslim fundamentalist establishment. The force's task is to track down and arrest "offenders," with particular attention to women using makeup or showing their hair and ankles in public, and men in Western T-shirts and sunglasses.... Iranians in exile characterize the operation as a plan to intensify fear and to cow the weary population into blind obedience to the hard-liners as the power struggle intensifies.... Underlying the multifaceted struggle is the worsening economic situation.... Inflation is running at 55 percent a year. Since 1979 ... per capita income has dropped 80 percent. Half the work force is jobless and 6 million people are reported to be suffering from malnutrition, according to exiled dissidents.... Clinton to Criticize Europe-Iran Contacts with Kohl, Dow Jones News, May 21 WASHINGTON - President Clinton is expected once again to tell German Chancellor Helmut Kohl the U.S. believes the European policy of "critical dialogue" with Iran is dangerous and a failure. Kohl will meet with Clinton on Thursday in Milwaukee for a full day of talks.... "We haven't seen any evidence the so-called critical dialogue has moderated Iran's behavior in the world. If anything, Iran continues to be the number one proponent of terrorism," said White House Spokesman Mike McCurry. The U.S. has been a strong proponent of the idea Iran must be isolated economically so long as it supports terrorism.... U.S. Says Iran Behind Killing of Israeli-American, Reuters, May 21 U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher said on Tuesday there was growing evidence that Iran was using "terrorism" to undermine the Middle East peace process. He accused an Iranian-backed group of a shooting in Israel last week that killed an Israeli-American student. "The evidence has grown in recent months. In advance of Israel's elections, Iranian-trained terrorists have been sent to infiltrate Israel and the Palestinian territories. Some have been intercepted. Others narrowly failed in carrying out their deadly activities. Still others have succeeded in their murderous missions," Christopher said in a speech to the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. "We believe that an Iranian-backed group was responsible for last week's drive-by shooting of an Israeli- American yeshiva student in the West Bank," Christopher said. "There should no longer be any debate about Iran's involvement in terrorism against the peace process," he said.... [The United Press quoted State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns as saying that: "Everything in Christopher's speech can be substantiated by a considerable amount of evidence."] Tehran Regime to Hold Its Biggest War Games, Associated Press, May 21 TEHRAN - In a major show of force, Iran will mobilize its 150,000-member army and air force for a two-day exercise billed as the country's largest ever. The aim of the maneuvers was to instill "fear in the hearts of the enemies of the Islamic Republic," the Islamic Republic News Agency quoted Air Force Commander Gen. Habib Baqaie as saying Tuesday.... [Reuters reported that: Newspapers said Revolutionary Guards units would launch another series of war games near the southwestern port city of Khorramshahr, near the Iraqi border, on Wednesday.] Short News * Resalat, May 20, Subsequent to criticism of Ansar-e Hezbollah [who recently attacked movie theaters, universities and public parks] by a deputy of Majlis, strong protests against the deputies slandering statements about Ansar-e Hezbollah were noticed. A member of the traditionalist fraction of Majlis expressed confidence that the people will soon give a "tooth-crushing answer" to the deputy. * Radio Israel, May 20, Today, it was announced in Tehran that the price of at least 200 vital medications increased in the past few days. * IRNA, May 20, Due to flood in Iran's northwest, 400 houses were destroyed and a great deal damage was inflicted. In the city of Oroumieh, 50 stores and 6 schools were also destroyed.