BRIEF ON IRAN	 
No. 582	
Wednesday, January 29, 1997
 
Representative Office of 
The National Council of Resistance of Iran	
Washington, DC 
 
 
 
U.S. Decides To Continue "Dual Containment", The 
Washington Times, January 28 
 
	After flirting with the idea of opening a 
political dialogue with Iran, the Clinton 
administration has retreated to its old policy of "dual 
containment" against both the Islamic republic and 
neighboring Iraq. 
	New Secretary of State Madeleine K. 
Albright reiterated her support for continuing current 
policies to contain Iran and Iraq on NBC's "Meet the 
Press" Sunday.... 
 
 
Fearing Popular Uprising, Tehran Changes Military 
Commanders, Radio Israel, January 27 
 
	Western intelligence sources say that the 
Islamic Republic of Iran, fearing undesirable security 
situation in south and southwest regions of the 
country have made changes among high ranking 
commanders in the region. 
	Al-Ousbou Al-Arabi [Arab Weekly] in a 
report quoted the sources as saying the removal of a 
number of commanders in southwestern regions took 
place following the recent incidents in these regions.  
The report said that one of the reasons for the sudden 
changes is the concern on issues in this region that 
may effect the security of Islamic Republic. 
 
 
Sudanese Vice-President in Iran for Talks on War, 
Reuters, January 28  
 
	Sudanese Vice-President al-Zubeir 
Mohammad Saleh arrived in Tehran on Tuesday for 
talks on the conflict in Sudan, state-run Tehran radio 
said.... 
	Tehran has close ties with Khartoum's 
Islamist government.... 
 
 
UAE Protests To Iran over Naval Violation, The 
United Press International, January 28   
 
	The United Arab Emirates has filed a 
diplomatic protest with Iran, accusing an Iranian ship 
of violating its territorial waters. 
	The official Emirates news agency, WAM, 
says Tuesday the vessel had entered UAE waters on 
Jan. 19 without permission of UAE authorities.... 
	[Reuters reported Tuesday that the vessel was 
an Iranian naval ship.] 
	Iran's ambassador to the UAE was 
summoned to UAE's Foreign Ministry, where he was 
handed the official protest. 
	WAM says the protest letter demanded that 
such violations and unjustified behavior should not be 
repeated.... 
 
 
More Discrimination Against Women, Iran Zamin, 
January 27 
 
	The state-run Tehran radio reported on 
January 15 that a committee, formed under 
Khamenei's order for segregation of hospitals on the 
basis of gender, decided to use government 
comptrollers for constant implementation of this 
discriminatory regulation. 
	The so-called Committee for Coordination of 
Medical Affairs with Islamic Rule implements the 
backward plan under the guise of "advancement of 
Islamic Ethics."  
	Reports provided by other state-controlled 
newspapers in Iran indicate the severe restrictions 
suffered by women in areas where this plan has been 
implemented. 
 
 
Journalists' Rights Group Protests Writer's Arrest, 
Reuters, January 28  
 
	The press freedom watchdog group Reporters 
Sans Frontieres (RSF) protested to Iran on Tuesday 
about the arrest of Faraj Sarkouhi, editor-in-chief of 
the monthly Adineh, who it said was being held in 
secret in Tehran. 
	"RSF is deeply concerned about Faraj 
Sarkouhi's safety," the Paris-based group said in a 
letter to the Iranian embassy in the French capital. 
	"Our organization asks you to use your 
influence to have Faraj Sarkouhi released and to 
ensure that the journalist can contact his family as 
soon as possible."... 
 
 
Tehran Dwellers Seek Release From Big City, 
Reuters, January 24 
 
	...Eighteen years after the late Ayatollah 
Ruhollah Khomeini overthrew the secular monarchy 
of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Iran still displays 
revolutionary zeal.... 
	Public morality, behavior and dress, 
particularly for women, is strictly monitored by a host 
of security agencies. 
	Courts have been set up to fight Western 
cultural influences and the law severely restricts 
contacts between unmarried people of different sexes 
who are not related. 
	Political candidates must pass a 
revolutionary litmus test if they are allowed to run for 
office and satellite television is officially banned 
though discreetly still exists. 
	In the relaxed atmosphere of Tehran's 
mountains and public parks, the state still has a 
presence with painted portraits of its leaders 
expounding Islamic and revolutionary principles 
lining the early paved stages of the hill climb. 
	Women climbers still have to cover 
themselves but some reveal more of their face under 
colorful headscarves and let a modest fringe fall onto 
their foreheads, freedoms that could incur wrath down 
in Tehran.... 
	"The future belongs to the Hezbollah" reads a 
billboard filled with the faces of Khomeini and 
Khamenei....