BRIEF ON IRAN	
No. 521
Friday, October 18, 1996

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


Egypt Asks Iran to Keep Out of North Iraq, Reuters, October 17

	CAIRO - Egypt asked Iraq's neighbors on Thursday to stay out of Iraqi
affairs and refrain from trying to exploit events in Iraqi Kurdistan, where
one Kurdish faction close to Iran has gone on the offensive against its rival.
	"Egypt is following with grave concern developments in the situation in
northern Iraq and its military repercussions, which threaten the
independence and territorial integrity of Iraq," a foreign ministry
statement said....
	The statement did not mention Iran by name but diplomats in Cairo say
anxiety about Iranian intentions is an important element in Egypt's
opposition to any fragmentation of Iraq....


Fearing the Resistance, Mullahs Tighten Security Measures, Iran Zamin News
Agency, October 16

	Fearing the escalation by the resistance forces across the country [marking
the anniversary of Mrs. Rajavi's election as the president of the
Resistance], the clerics' regime has increased night patrol and controls in
the populated areas.
	According to the reports from Tehran, during the last week the regime has
intensified patrolling parks, plazas and streets...


Psychological Illnesses Rising Among Iran's Students, Iran Zamin News
Agency, October 16

	In a superficial reaction to the rise of psychological illnesses among
school students, the clerics' regime held a seminar in Tehran called
"Promotion of Psychological Health of Students."
	The state-run radio, reported that currently 2% of the Iranian students are
affected with behavioral and psychological illnesses.
	According to official statistics, currently 125,000 student are suffering
from psychological diseases...


Deceitful Moderation Pose: IOC Asked to Assist Muslim Women in Sports, The
Washington Post, October 16

	The vice president of Iran's Olympic committee wants the International
Olympic Committee to do more to promote sports for Muslim women.
	Hashemi, daughter of Iran President Hashemi Rafsanjani, said... "What is
the problem with having competitions in accordance with our conditions?" She
referred to conditions in which men and women are segregated....
	Hassiba Boulmerka of Algeria won the gold medal in the 1,500 meters at the
Barcelona Games, competing in a standard runner's outfit....
	No other nation has been as zealous and attention-grabbing in the realm of
sex discrimination as Iran, where women who violate the Islamic dress code
risk flogging.
	Iran has banned women from attending soccer games, advised women to
practice only those sports that can be played while wearing veils, and, at
Barcelona, refused to let a woman carry the national placard ahead of its
team at the Opening Ceremonies.


Iranian Ayatollahs Building Chemical Arsenal, Sunday Telegraph, October 13

		[continued from BOI 520]

	... Initial attempts [by Iran] to procure material to make mustard gas from
a German entrepreneur were foiled by an elaborate Central Intelligence
Agency sting operation. American agents managed to replace barrels of
potentially lethal chemicals with water, which were then duly delivered to
Teheran.  Despite this inauspicious start, the Iranians have shown tenacity
and imagination in their efforts to acquire the relevant components and
expertise.
	According to the National Council of Resistance of Iran, which has worked
closely with several Western intelligence services on assessing the Iranian
chemical weapons threat, 4,000 people are currently employed by the Special
Industries Organization, the branch of the Iranian defense ministry
responsible for chemical weapons.
	The SIO runs a research laboratory called Vira in central Teheran and a
chemical storage facility on the outskirts of the city. In addition, the
regime has research, production and storage facilities at Parchin,
Marvdasht, Bandar Khomeini, Karaj, Isfahan and Shiraz.
	Attempts to acquire key components abroad are financed by an organization
called the Bonyad-e-Mostazafan Foundation, which claims to be a charitable
body but in fact is under the control of the Revolutionary Guards. In the
past the organization's funds have been used to buy chemicals, equipment for
the nuclear program and spare parts for Iranian fighter-bombers....