BRIEF ON IRAN	
	No. 488	
	Friday, August 30, 1996


	Representative Office of 
	The National Council of Resistance of Iran           
	3421 M Street NW #1032
	Washington, DC 20007      
	

China to Sign $4.5 Billion Arms Deal with Iran, Dow Jones News, August 29

	CAIRO - An Arabic daily said that Iran and China are expected to sign a new
$4.5 billion arms deal under which Beijing will provide planes, missiles and
ships to Tehran.
	The London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper quoted unidentified sources as
saying that Iranian Defense Minister Mohammad Forouzandeh would initial the
deal during his current weeklong visit to China. It will be finalized in
Tehran in December....
	U.S. Navy officials in the Gulf allege that Iran, mostly with Chinese help,
has acquired the potential power to close off the strategic Strait of
Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the world's oil supplies pass.


Germany May Investigate Khamenei and Rafsanjani, United Press International,
August 29

	BONN - Germany's public prosecutor said Thursday that he may investigate
Iran's president Ali Akbar Rafsanjani and main religious leader Ali Khamenei
over allegations they personally approved the 1992 killing of four Kurdish
separatists in a Berlin restaurant.
	The move would mark a new threat to the already strained relationship
between Tehran and its main European partner. Political observers say it
could also undermine the position of Chancellor Helmut Kohl's foreign
minister and some of his closest advisers, who have consistently defended
Bonn's ties with Iran despite foreign and domestic criticism....
	Western intelligence experts have accused Iran of using the embassy as a
base for assassinations of opponents and illegal harassment of Iranian
exiles....


Iran Accuses More as Spies, Associated Press, August 29

	TEHRAN - Iran's intelligence minister says 137 suspects have been arrested
since March on charges of spying for the United States, Iraq and other
countries....
	Iran periodically announces arrests of alleged spies working for Iraq, its
foe in the 1980-88 war, and the United States. Convicted spies face long
prison terms or death by hanging.
	Fallahiyan himself is wanted in Germany for allegedly ordering the 1992
assassination of an Iranian opposition leader and three of his aides in
Berlin. German prosecutors issued an arrest warrant for him in March.
Khamenei: Europeans in Line with Islamic Revolution, Agence France Presse,
August 28

	"Europeans are in line with the Islamic Republic of Iran, because they
condemned U.S. sanctions against Iran."  Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic
Republic of Iran, made these remarks before Iran's government officials.  He
said: "We say to these governments, particularly, European Governments, who
stood up against U.S. sanctions against Iran and Libya that this means
[your] affirmation of our revolution's message..."


Khamenei Sets the Stage for More Repression, State-run Radio

	August 26 - ... Khamenei in meeting with the directors and staff of
municipality of Tehran called for creation and expansion of religious
atmosphere in urban areas...
	Khamenei said: "... We must plan such that the city of Tehran looks like an
Islamic city...  But, the particularity of an Islamic city is that the
religious and pious should feel safe everywhere and corrupts must not find
any place safe for corruption and vice.  This important [issue] must be
completely considered in all areas related to municipally, including parks
and cultural associations...

	August 28 - ... Khamenei in meeting with the country's staff of various
departments said: "... those who are the enemies of the system of Islamic
Republic will not restrict themselves to accusing only authorities, nobles
and high profile figures in the system.  They will accuse all official
apparatuses of this system...  Of course, the media also must be alert and
do not publish any nonsense under various pretexts...