BRIEF ON IRAN	
No. 616	
Wednesday, March 19, 1997

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


Youths Defied Warnings Over Firecrackers, Reuter, March 18

	TEHRAN - Police arrested scores of youths as thousands of young people
defied government warnings and let off firecrackers in the Iranian capital
on Tuesday night to celebrate an ancient festival.
	Residents said police arrested youths to stop the traditional
Chaharshanbe-Suri celebrations.
	The festival dates back to Iran's Zoroastrian past when fire was thought to
have a spiritual cleansing effect...
	Authorities have tried with little success to limit the celebrations due to
safety concerns and because of the scenes of public dancing deemed immoral
under Iran's Islamic laws.
	Hard-line conservative newspapers have blasted the festival which they see
as a pagan relic.


24-Hour Patrol Battalions Set Up, State Radio (Ilam), Mar. 11

	The commander of the State security forces in Ilam province (western Iran)
said that in order to maintain calm in the province during Nowrooz
celebrations, 24-hour patrol battalions, and 85 temporary security stations
in the main and periphery roads would be set up to control the movement of
the people during Nowrooz holidays. To control bus drivers, a number of
traffic personnel will be on board buses as undercover agents. mobile teams
will be stationed in hotels and motels on a 24-hour basis.


Exporting Physicians! Tehran Radio, Mar. 14

	Excerpts from Rafsanjani's sermon at Tehran's Friday prayers: Some of my
comments may prompt you to chant Allah-o Akbar (God is the greatest), but
for the sake of brevity I'll try to be brief. 
	The shortage of doctors from which we suffered in the past is now turning
into a problem of surplus physicians. We are after a plan to export physicians.


Saudi Asks Pilgrims To Avoid Politics, Crowding, Reuter, March 18

	DUBAI - Saudi Arabia urged on Tuesday the two million Moslem pilgrims
expected to perform this year's haj pilgrimage to abide by its laws banning
political activities and to follow safety instructions in congested places.
	It said pilgrims were "banned from carrying any pictures, books or
political pamphlets whatever they are or any banned items and are banned
from taking part in any political gatherings, rallies or (chanting)
slogans." Violators would be subject to Saudi laws, including deportation...
	Iran says Moslems have the right to air their political grievances during
the pilgrimage, mainly through rallies against Israel and the United States.
Saudi Arabia says the haj is a purely religious affair and should not be
politicized.


Earthquake Hits the Capital, Agence France Presse, March 18

	TEHRAN - An earthquake measuring four degrees on the open-ended Richter
scale hit the Iranian capital on Tuesday but apparently caused no casualties
or damage, officials said.
	The temblor struck at 9:06 a.m. (0536 GMT) and was felt in several
districts of Tehran.
	The epicenter was registered 50 kilometers (30 miles) northeast of Tehran
around the Damavand region.
	A 5.5-degree quake hit the northwestern region of Ardebil on February 28,
leaving around 1,000 people dead, 2,600 injured and another 60,000 homeless.
	The entire Iranian plateau is earthquake prone. 


Thanks, But No Thanks, Agence France Presse, March 18

	KUWAIT CITY - Iran's Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati met the Kuwaiti
emir here Tuesday as part of a tour of Gulf states where regional security
has been topping the agenda...
	Western diplomats said security issues were likely to head the agenda
during the visit to Kuwait as they have done in Oman and Saudi Arabia where
Velayati called for cooperation among Gulf states to guarantee their own
security...
	But Gulf Arab states have expressed concern to varying degrees over Iran's
growing military might in the region, and still look to the United States
and other Western allies for their security.
	One Western diplomat said any Iranian proposals for security cooperation
with Kuwait were likely to receive "a polite but firm, no thank you."
	"I don't think they (Kuwaitis) see any interest in their security being
regionalised" to give Iran a role, the diplomat said.