BRIEF ON IRAN	
No. 610
Tuesday, March 11, 1997

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


Mullahs Prepare Chemical Warheads to Confront Iranian Resistance, Iran Zamin
News Agency, March 10

	In a statement issued in Paris, the Press Office of the People's Mojahedin
of Iran revealed Tehran's plans for air and missile attacks on the National
Liberation Army base camps.
	Reports received by the Mojahedin indicate that Ali Khamenei, the mullahs'
leader, has assigned the regime's organization of military industry since
some time ago to seek help from foreign experts and equip short and
medium-range missiles with chemical warheads. The regime will thus be able
to strike its targets with weapons of mass destruction.
	The statement said: "The mullahs' regime has found the only solution in
escalating suppression and intensifying its terrorist activities abroad." 


More Repressive Measures On the Eve of Iranian New Year, Iran Zamin News
Agency, March 10

	Continuing its repressive plans for control of cities during Iranian New
Year holidays, the Ministry of Guidance announced the formation of special
observation headquarters in tourist cities.
	Previously, the security forces had announced that from February 28 special
security plans for Nowrouz [the Iranian New Year] will be in effect.
According to reports, the security forces will be on alert during this
period and will have night posts to review widespread arrests that the
regime is anticipating.
	On the other hand, Besharati, the Interior Minister, during a meeting with
security commanders, emphasized on the regime's alertness.
	The unprecedented concerns of the cleric regime for this years' holidays
demonstrates its fear of protest activities by the resistance forces. 


Shameless Justification for Murder Edict, French Weekly, Express, March 8

	Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran, Mahmoud Va'ezi, in his visit to Greece was
asked why the bounty on Rushdie's head was increased to $2.5 million.  He
responded: "I do not know anything in this regard.  It may be that the
inflation has been taken into account." 


Extremely Cold Weather Threatens Quake Survivors, Agence France Presse, March 10

	TEHRAN - Temperatures of 28 degrees Celsius below zero (minus 68
Fahrenheit) are threatening the survivors of a  killer earthquake that
rocked northwestern Iran last month, Tehran  radio reported Monday.
	Life has become "very difficult" in the mountainous area of Ardabil,
reputed to be the coldest region in Iran, the radio said....
	Relief work was already progressing slowly in the region with rough
terrains covered by snow....


Iran, Syria to Engage in Military Cooperation, Agence France Presse, March 10

	TEHRAN - Iran is to help Syria to modernize its military technology as part
of a general defense cooperation agreement between the two countries,
Iranian Defense Minister Mohammad  Foruzandeh said Monday.
	Foruzandeh, who visited Syria last month, told the English-language daily
Tehran Times that the agreements "will determine the future defense
cooperation" between the two countries....
	The Persian Iran considers Syria as its main strategic ally in the Middle
East and praises Damascus as a "main bulwark" to Israeli "aggressions"
against the Arabs.
	Foruzandeh also said the two countries had pledged to support resistance
against Israeli occupation of Arab land. "We agreed on curbing any further
aggression by Zionist occupiers," he added....


Iran Seeks Resumption of Japanese Loans, Agence France Presse, March 10

	TOKYO - Iran asked Japan Monday to resume official loans to finance a dam
project, which has been suspended since 1994 amid Western-bloc criticism of
Teheran's alleged support for terrorism, officials said.
	The request was made by Mohsen Nurbakhsh, president of Iran's central bank,
during talks with Foreign Minister Yukihiko Ikeda in Tokyo, foreign ministry
officials said....
	Ikeda was quoted as telling Nurbakhsh: "Japan is still considering resuming
yen loans, but we would like Iran to take concrete action to deny the
allegation."
	Japan provided 38.6 billion yen (320 million dollars) in yen loans to Iran
in 1993 as the initial part of official development assistance for the dam
project on the Karun River in southern Iran.
	But Japan has not extended further loans to finalize the project because of
their suspicion that Tehran supports international terrorism.