BRIEF ON IRAN	 
	Representative Office of 
	The National Council of Resistance of Iran
	No. 457	
	Thursday, July 18, 1996 
 
 
	3421 M Street NW #1032, Washington, DC 20007

 

Expulsion of Iranian Athlete,  Asylum-Seekers, Iran Zamin 
News Agency, July 17 
 
	Last week, Mohsen Mogheem-Khani, an Iranian 
athlete, seeking asylum in Holland, was arrested. 
According to the police he will be handed over to the 
Iranian regime. Other reports indicate that the Dutch 
government intends to hand over eight Iranian asylum-
seekers to the Mullahs' regime tomorrow. 
	The NCR issued a statement today and condemned 
the "action by the government of Holland which is a blatant 
violation of the sacred right to asylum, stipulated in the 
United Nations Convention of July 1951." The statement 
also called for immediate rescinding of this decision." 
	The NCR called on Dutch parliamentarians and 
international human rights organizations to urgently 
intervene to prevent the expulsion of these victims. 
 
 
Tehran's Diplomat-Terrorist Involved in Rome Murder, 
Reuters, July 17  
 
	NICOSIA — ...A Rome court hearing to decide 
whether to try three men for the murder of Mohammed 
Hussein Naghdi -- a former diplomat at the Iranian 
embassy in Rome who became a leading member of the 
Iranian National Resistance Council (INRC) after his 
defection in 1981 -- has been adjourned until September. 
	An Iranian and two Algerians are facing charges 
of murdering Naghdi, who was shot dead near his Rome 
home in 1993. 
	Italian investigators this month shelved the case 
against a fourth suspect, an Iranian embassy employee at 
the time of the murder and now in Tehran, on the grounds 
of diplomatic immunity.... 
 
 
Iranian Sentenced to Death over Failed Israeli Embassy 
Bombing, Murder, Reuters, July 17  
 
	BANGKOK — A Thai court on Wednesday 
convicted an Iranian man of murder and conspiring to set 
off a bomb in central Bangkok in 1994, and sentenced him 
to death. 
	The Bangkok Criminal Court said it had been 
proven that Hossein Dasgiri was responsible for the murder 
of a Thai truck driver and the planned bomb attack, which 
police said at the time was aimed at the Israeli embassy. 
	An official from the Iranian Embassy denounced 
the verdict and the sentence, and said an appeal would be 
lodged.... 
 
 
Ansar-e Hezbollah Demonstrate, Radio Israel, July 15 
 
	In a demonstration in Tehran held by Ansar-e 
Hezbollah, the group demanded expulsion of university 
professors and researchers who do not support the regime's 
policies and are, as described by the group, enemy, liberal 
and dependent on the World Arrogance.... 
	The leader of the Ansar-e Hezbollah... said that 
the World Arrogance, under the leadership of the criminal 
United States, who has been defeated in various 
conspiracies, is now trying to destroy the Islamic Iran's 
active, religious youth by means of a widespread cultural 
offensive.... 
 
 
Rafsanjani Calls for Closer Ties with North Korea, 
Associated Press, July 17 
 
	TEHRAN — Iran's president called for stronger 
ties with North Korea, which U.S. officials accuse of 
providing missiles and military technology to Tehran.  
	Iran's official Islamic Republic News Agency said 
that Hashemi Rafsanjani called for "more exchange of 
views and bilateral delegations so that the foundation is laid 
for stronger ties."...  
 
 
Peace Is Dead—Velayati, Agence France Presse, July 17 
 
	On Wednesday, Velayati, Iran's Foreign Minister, 
said that according to Tehran's predictions, "the (Middle 
East) peace process is dead." He told the AFP reporter that: 
"This proves we were right...." 
	The Iranian Foreign Minister said that Arafat 
"does not represent the majority of the Palestinian 
people...." 
 
 
Senate Passes Bill Penalizing Firms Investing in Iran, The 
Wall Street Journal, July 17 
 
	WASHINGTON -- The Senate passed by voice 
vote a tough version of legislation to penalize foreign 
energy companies that invest in or trade with Iran or 
Libya.... 
	The differences may be ironed out in House-Senate 
conference. While the House dislikes the Libya investment 
trigger, Republican leaders want to get a final bill to the 
president's desk fairly quickly, and one aide suggested the 
House may go along with the Senate provision to avoid a 
messy conference....