BRIEF ON IRAN	 
No. 617	
Thursday, March 20, 1997 
 
Representative Office of 
The National Council of Resistance of Iran	
Washington, DC  
 
 

On the Occasion of the Iranian New Year, 
Nowrouz, Brief on Iran Wishes You A 
Happy and Successful New Year



 
Rajavi: Khamenei Takes Final Step to Remove 
Rafsanjani from Power, Iran Zamin News Agency, 
March 19 
 
	Mr. Massoud Rajavi, President of the National 
Council of Resistance of Iran, described Khamenei's 
appointment of Rafsanjani as the head of the Council 
for the Discernment of the Exigencies of the State as a 
face-saving effort to remove him and his faction from 
power after the presidential elections in May when 
Rafsanjani's terms ends. 
	He added: By appointing Rafsanjani to this 
ceremonial post, Khamenei effectively and permanently 
casts him aside from the active political arena. In view 
of the new appointments to the Council, Khamenei's 
supporters constitute the absolute majority and 
Rafsanjani and his clique comprise an insignificant 
minority.... 
	Mr. Rajavi characterized Rafsanjani's 
imminent and inevitable removal from the helms of 
power as the biggest schism within the clerical regime 
following Khomeini's death. This would further 
destabilize the regime and escalate its internal feuding, 
he stressed. 
	The Iranian Resistance's leader noted that this 
major schism would further weaken the mullahs in their 
face-off against the Iranian people's Resistance and 
expedite their overthrow by the National Liberation 
Army of Iran. To confront this crisis, Mr. Rajavi 
emphasized, the religious, terrorist dictatorship ruling 
Iran would inevitably intensify the suppression at home 
and the export of terrorism and fundamentalism to the 
countries in the region. Already, the indications are 
becoming apparent, he said. 
 
 
Norway Urges Sanctions Against Iran for Rushdie 
Fatwa, Agence France Presse, March 19 
 
	Norway on Wednesday called for international 
economic sanctions to be imposed on Iran in response to 
the death sentence decreed against British writer 
Salman Rushdie. 
	"We feel that the time has now come for joint, 
coordinated international action," State Secretary Jan 
Egeland said in a speech before the UN Human Rights 
Commission here. "The government of Norway calls for 
international economic sanctions against Iran." 
	The late Ayatollah Khomeini decreed the death 
sentence, or fatwa, against Rushdie for the British 
author's novel, the Satanic Verses.... 
	"Neither existing international mechanisms nor 
any bilateral dialogue have been able to correct the 
intolerable situation caused by Iran and its fatwa," 
Egeland said. 
	Tehran's explanation that the action was taken 
by a private organization beyond government control 
was "unacceptable," Egeland said, adding it was the 
government's duty to bring such criminal activities 
under control. 
	"It is the government of Iran that has the final 
responsibility," he said. 
	Egeland was speaking in front of 
representatives of 53 member states of the Human 
Rights Commission which is in session until April 18. 
 
 
China, Iran Reach Power Deal, Agence France Presse, 
March 19 
 
	China has granted Iran a 200 million dollar 
seller's credit for two 325,000 kilowatt power generating 
units, the official Xinhua news agency said Wednesday 
in a dispatch from Tehran.... 
	The deal was signed by the China National 
Machinery and Equipment Import and Export Corp. and 
the Iran Power Development Corp. and is offered under 
the terms of a 10-year seller's credit. 
	Despite vehement denials from both Beijing 
and Tehran, China is frequently accused of selling 
nuclear and chemical technology and weapons to Iran. 
 
 
Mullahs in Albania, London Times, March 19 
 
	 Heavily armed men...destroyed much of the 
Iranian Government's agricultural school on the 
outskirts of Tirana last night. 
	 This impressive modern complex, near the 
airport, was the showpiece of the Tehran Government's 
quiet economic and diplomatic offensive in 
Albania....The school was opened by President Berisha 
and a leading Iranian cleric three years ago. 
	 Albania, where 60 per cent of the population is 
Muslim, was a natural target for Iranian aid and 
missionary work after years of religious persecution 
under communism. Strong American opposition has, 
however, prevented the opening of high-level diplomatic 
relations. 
	 The Iranians have instead concentrated on a 
charm offensive among the Tirana elite....