BRIEF ON IRAN	
No. 571
Monday, January 13, 1997

Representative Office of
The National Council of Resistance of Iran
Washington, DC


Extensive Clashes in Western Iran, Iran Zamin News Agency, January 12

	In a statement issued on Sunday, the People's Mojahedin Organization of
Iran reported that in recent days, a number of clashes took place between
the Mojahedin and the forces of the mullahs' regime in the provinces of
Kermanshah, Ilam and Khuzistan.
	The statement said the residents of various cities and villages had "arisen
in support of the Mojahedin and a large number of the regime's Guards and
agents have been killed or wounded."
	Six Mojahedin members and 15 of its sympathizers, who had risen in support
of the Mojahedin, were also killed. A number of others, whose exact number
is not known, were arrested and executed secretly by the regime forces, the
statement said.
	The satetment said that the mullahs' Ministery of Intelligence announcewd
news of the Mojahedin's clash yesterday with the regim's "Security Forces"
in Dehloran and falsely claimed that six Mojahedin with military equipment
intended to cross the border from Iraq.


Refinery Workers to Go on Strike, Radio France International, January 11

	The deadline for beginning an open-ended strike by the workers of
refineries in Tehran, Tabriz, Shiraz and Isfahan is about to arrive.
	Petroleum workers at these refineries went on a two-day strike on December
18th and 19th. That strike was a warning, and the workers announced that if
their demands are not met by January 18th, they will go on an open-ended
strike....
	The workers want some modifications and full implementation of the
Cooperative Covenant which allows for some benefits for the workers due to
their difficult working circumstances....


High Prices in Iran, Radio Israel, January 8

	According to an official report of the Islamic Republic's Central Bank,
price of essential goods in Iran increase on a weekly basis. 
	The report, published in Tehran, says in the past seven days the price of
eggs increased by 3%, that of sugar and sugar cane by 6% and milk powder bay
11%.


Overview
The Threat of Mullahs
Voice of America, January 11

	Host: ...The Iranian government is the principal state sponsor of
international terrorism. Iran continues to try to destroy the middle east
peace process. And Iran has intensified its efforts to develop or acquire
weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons. In response, the
U.S. has halted all trade with and investment in Iran.... Let me begin with
you [Ms. Alina Romanowski Director of Near East And South Asian Affairs at
the U.S. Department of Defense] by asking in what way Iran today presents a
threat to the vital interests of the United States and how the United States
is then countering that threat?
	Ms. Romanowski: I think you highlighted some of them in your opening
statement. Iran continues to be disruptive to the peace process.... It
continues to sponsor terrorist groups that undertake terrorism against
Israel. The Iranians also continue to attempt to build their weapons of mass
destruction capabilities. And [they] are very keen and very interested in
acquiring that capability. And the Iranians continue to pose a threat to the
stability of the region by supporting subversive groups, threaten the
stability of governments in the region along with our gulf allies. And, most
worrisome to us is, again, their efforts to acquire weapons of mass
destruction. So they are very much a threat to our interests, not only in
the region, but worldwide. In may of 1995, President Clinton did place an
embargo on all trade and commercial activity with the Iranians. Our policy
is to acquire as much international pressure on Iran to alter its
unacceptable behavior. And we do that through a very active dialogue with
our European allies, our coalition allies in the region as well as Russia,
China and others. We have taken many unilateral steps, one of which was
President Clinton's embargo....
	Host: Let's talk about the nature of the threat from Iran in a military
fashion for a moment. Iran seems to have undertaken a conventional military
modernization program, particularly in the naval area with the acquisition
of fast-attack boats from China, sea-to-sea missiles and so forth. is that
significant in terms of U.S. interests in the Straits of Hormuz and the free
flow of oil? Are you worried about Iran's conventional capabilities?...
	Ms. Romanowski: We certainly are monitoring that and looking at it closely.
We are worried. Many of our discussions with our allies and Russia and China
are designed actually to limit the kinds of conventional weapons and arm
sales to that region. The naval modernization plans that they have certainly
increase the prospects of the Iranians to do harassment against naval
shipping, to certainly make it a nuisance for us in the region. It is of
concern to us.... I think one of the Iranians' aims, certainly in a regional
context, is they are interested in very much dominating, militarily, the
Gulf....