BRIEF ON IRAN Representative Office of The National Council of Resistance of Iran No. 437 Wednesday, June 19, 1996 3421 M Street NW #1032, Washington, DC 20007 Britain Accuses Iran of Stirring Up Gulf Troubles, Reuters, June 17 MANAMA — Britain's minister of state for foreign and commonwealth affairs on Monday accused Iran of sponsoring international terrorism and stirring up troubles in the oil-rich Gulf. "Iran has been guilty of sponsoring terrorism abroad... particularly to try to stir up difficulties here in the Gulf where stability is important," Jeremy Hanley told a news conference on his visit to the Gulf's financial and banking center. "We would urge Iran to see the error of its ways." Attention has recently focused non-Arab Iran's relationship with Gulf states since Bahrain recently said it had foiled a pro- Tehran plot to topple its government by force and install an Islamic regime.... The United States, which accuses Iran of sponsoring international terrorism, has tried to put a stranglehold on Tehran with a political campaign and trade embargo designed to isolate the Islamic republic.... A Common Stance Against Tehran—Newspaper, Iran Zamin, June 18 As the Summit of Arab Leaders approaches, the Egyptian daily Al-Ahram urged the Arab countries to take a common strong position against the Iranian regime. The daily wrote that the Tehran government should not be allowed to create tension and crisis in the region. Unprecedented Gathering Against Mullahs, Press Association News, June 17 Some 25,000 people are expected to attend a mass rally at Earles Court, London on Friday against the "brutal fundamentalism" regime in Iran. Officials of the organizers, the National Council of Resistance of Iran, claim that this is unique and unprecedented event to show the world the scale of Muslim opposition to this "misuse of the name Islam." Mohammad Mohaddesin, chairman of the Foreign Relations Commission of the Council, told PA News: "...This regime is misusing the name of Islam and has nothing to do with Islamic culture whatsoever." He said there were about 45,000 Iranians in Britain, the majority of whom supported the resistance movement. "We are expecting thousands of Christians from across Britain to join forces with anti-fundamentalist Muslims in an unprecedented endeavor in defense of persecuted women and intellectuals." Mr. Mohaddesin said that Muslim singers and intellectuals would be taking part in the event. Iran's Caviar Industry Declines, Iran Zamin News Agency, June 12 The state-owned fishing company, that has monopoly over production and sale of Iran's caviar, announced that caviar productions in 1996 will fall to 112 tons compared to 142 tons in 1995. Iran's production of caviar in 1992 was 200 tons, yielding an annual income of $100 million from its export. It is estimated that despite a 50% increase in its price of this year, caviar's export will produce a total of only $60 million. The Clerics Against Universities, Radio Israel, June 17 A principal representative of Khamenei in the universities, along with Hezbollahis, called for expulsion of university professors who did not believe in the values of revolution and Islam. Ayatollah Mesbahi said: "...The founders of universities in Iran had no ties to Islam whatsoever and had a kind of enmity toward religion."... Mesbahi, whose statements are published in today's Jomhuri-e Eslami daily, said one way to Islamicize the universities is "segregating male and female students and taking daily prayers seriously." The Plane Was Landed Skillfully, Radio Tehran, June 16 The head of the State Aviation Organization, Shahcheraghi, in a meeting with the reporters, described the fatal crash of a Boeing-727 that occurred last week near the city of Rasht. He said the plane ... was landed skillfully, but since the wheels were not properly functioning, the pilot took off again, and after making a complete circle, tried to land again which resulted in the fatal crash.