BRIEF ON IRAN No. 622 Thursday, March 27, 1997 Representative Office of The National Council of Resistance of Iran Washington, DC Iran's Oil Revenue Forecast "Unrealistic And Almost Impossible," Agence France Presse, March 26 TEHRAN - ...In drawing up the budget for the year beginning March 20, Iran's Islamic parliament forecast the average price per barrel at 17.50 dollars, a figure which some Iranian oil experts have described as optimistic. In January, a member of the board of directors of the National Iranian Oil Company, expressed doubt over whether the 1997-98 target could be reached. Mohsen Yahyavi, who is also the deputy chairman of the parliamentary oil subcommittee, described the forecast price of 17.50 dollars as "unrealistic and almost impossible." "I doubt we will have the same windfall this year as last year," he said. Yahyavi also said Iran had trouble meeting its crude output quota set by OPEC, producing 80,000 bpd less than its quota of 3.6 million bpd. He attributed the fall to "poorly-maintained" oil wells, and blamed the government for failing to provide enough financial assistance. "If there are no improvements, Iran will be forced to further reduce production to 110,000 barrels a day below its quota" for the next 12 months, Yahyavi warned. 20 Oil Workers Still In Jail, Iran Zamin News Agency, March 17 Alireza Mahjoob, a Majlis deputy, said that 20 of the oil workers who had been arrested during a protest action last month are still in detention awaiting trial. He said they may be sentenced to lashing, adding that they may be fired while they wait for sentencing. No More 100 & 200 Rial Bills, Radio Israel, March 22 The Iranian rial has lost so much of its value that the central bank has decided to stop printing 100 and 200 rial bills. Only coins worth that much will be minted. News bills of 50,000 rials and higher will be printed. Swedish Mps Call For Talks With Opposition, BBC Radio, March 19 In a press conference at the Swedish parliament, Bengt Silverstrand, of the ruling Social Democratic Party and spokesman for the Committee to Defend Democracy and Human Rights in Iran, said that the committee was trying to convince Swedish officials and other parliaments to engage in dialogue with different Iranian exile groups to defend democracy in Iran. Silverstrand said that committee members, from all seven Swedish parties, intend to convince their own parties that the time has come for Sweden to adopt a tougher policy against Iran. As a first step, they want to convince neighboring countries such as Denmark, Norway and Finland and later other European counties, to consider sanctions against Iran. Committee members said that they would not limit themselves to a trade embargo, but wanted diplomatic and political pressures as well. Netanyahu Says Iran Wants Missiles To Reach U.S., Reuter, March 26 HERZLIYA, Israel - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday Iran wanted to develop ballistic missiles that could reach the United States. "We believe Iran is intent on developing ballistic missiles, first to reach Israel, then to reach Europe, then to reach a range of 10,000 km (6,000 miles) -- meaning reaching the eastern seaboard of the United States," he said in a speech in central Israel. "If such a regime acquires such weapons, everyone is in danger," he said at the International Policy Institute for Counter-terrorism, which groups former intelligence officials from all over the world. ... The Los Angeles Times last month quoted Israeli officials as saying Russian transfer of missile technology to Iran included some parts for an SS-4 missile, which has a range of 2,000 km (1,250 miles).... Israel has long accused Islamic Iran of seeking its destruction. "Islamic fundamentalism, like communism...is bent on the expansion of its dominion to as many corners of the world as possible," Netanyahu said ...