BRIEF ON IRAN
No. 619
Monday, March 24, 1997	

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


Ministry of Intelligence Busy with Growing Problems of Youth in Iran, Iran
Zamin News Agency, March 23

	In a report from Tehran regarding the upcoming sham elections in Iran,  The
Wall Street Journal, observed the growing gap between poor and rich in Iran.
The article also noted worries of the regime's officials over the discontent
of the Iranian youth stemming from existing living conditions.
	The journal wrote: Iran, like many other countries, faces a growing gap
between rich and poor.  It also has a huge population of young people unable
to find work.  Five million single youths haven't been able to get married
as a result of 'financial and living problems,' according to a recent report
from Iran's minister of intelligence...
	In respect to the two top contenders of the elections, the paper added:
"Some say Mr. Nateq Nouri's election has been decided in advance; others say
a Khatami victory wouldn't matter because conservatives control the rest of
the government.  A rug merchant agreed to be interviewed but on hearing the
subject was the election, said: 'I can't talk. I have a headache.'" 


Upcoming Verdict in Mikonos Trail, Agence France Presse, March 20

	A spokesman for the regional branch of Germany's Ministry of Justice said
on Thursday that the verdict in trial of the murders of four Iranian Kurdish
dissidents in Berlin, will be heard on April 10.  
	The verdict could have significant implications on Bonn-Tehran relations.
The Federal Prosecutor has charged the Iranian supreme leader, Ali Khamenei,
with ordering the assassination. 


Presence of Iran Keeps Many Away from Islamic Summit, Associated Press, March 21

	ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Friction with Iran is keeping most Arab leaders away
from this weekend's Islamic summit on global goals for the 21st century.
	At least 25 state or government leaders, including the presidents of Turkey
and Iran, will be among the 1,500 delegates at Sunday's session of the
Organization of Islamic Conference.
	Pakistan is hosting the summit in connection with its 50th anniversary as a
Muslim state.
	Tensions between Iran and the Arab world are largely responsible for thin
Arab attendance, but security is also a worry.... 


The Year of Major Developments
Iran Zamin News Agency, March 21

	On the occasion of the Iranian new year, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the Iranian
Resistance's President-elect, and Mr. Massoud Rajavi, the Iranian
Resistance's leader, attended a celebration at one of the bases of the
National Liberation Army of Iran last night.
	Mrs. Rajavi said: With this army and the Iranian people's support for it, I
can clearly see the triumph of democracy, peace and justice over
suppression, ignorance and poverty.  She added: In the free Iran of tomorrow
there will be no killings, repression and discrimination against women and
religious and ethnic minorities.  The Iran of tomorrow will be the symbol of
fraternity, friendship and prosperity; it will herald peace and coexistence
in the entire region and the world.
	Mr. Rajavi, the Iranian Resistance's leader, referred to the increasing
wave of young people who are leaving through the borders to join the NLA.
He also noted the combat readiness of the army and the Iranian people's
active cooperation with the Mojahedin combatants across the country, which
had remarkably increased in the latter months of the Iranian year 1375,
following the trip by the Resistance's President-elect to the Iran-Iraq
border region. Mr. Rajavi stated: These realities convince us that the end
of this regime has become closer than ever before and that the new Iranian
year would be the year of major developments in our country.  Particularly
since Rafsanjani's imminent and inevitable removal will exacerbate the
mullahs' internal crises and feuding.
	The Iranian Resistance's leader reiterated that in the year that just
ended, 168 cases of protests, strikes, military operations and extensive
clashes between the people and the Guards had been recorded in which
different sectors of society, including workers, students, pupils, the
educational staff and civil servants actively participated.  He also
recalled that two polls conducted by the Iranian Resistance inside the
country last year had indicated that more than two-thirds of the Iranian
people support this resistance and its President-elect. Mr. Rajavi concluded
that the time had come to combine the NLA with social activities and that
the road for the regime's overthrow was paved for the NLA as never before....